A climate activist who targeted Taylor Swift's private jet genuinely believed the global pop icon would become an ally for their cause after the stunt, a court has heard.
Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and fellow Just Stop Oil protester Cole Macdonald, 22, are accused of causing criminal damage to two aircraft at Stansted Airport in Essex last June. The group targeted a private jet they believed belonged to the 'Bad Blood' singer, spray-painting its nose and front landing gear with orange paint.
Prosecutor Adam King told Chelmsford Magistrates' Court that the damage to the two planes amounted to an estimated £5,000. The court heard that the activists' intention was to grab headlines and force a conversation about the environmental impact of private aviation.
'A Calculated Act For Maximum Impact'
Mr King stated that the pair's actions were a 'calculated act for maximum impact', specifically chosen to draw the world's attention through its connection to one of the most famous women on the planet.
He detailed how the defendants cut a hole in the airport's perimeter fence to gain access to the private aviation area before targeting the aircraft with spray paint.
The Defence's Argument
Representing the defendants, Tim Roberts-Schwarz argued that their actions were a form of peaceful protest, driven by the 'overwhelming urgency of the climate crisis'.
He suggested that the cost of the damage should be viewed in the context of the profits generated by the airport and the environmental cost of private jet travel, which he described as 'disproportionate and devastating'.
The case continues as the court deliberates on the defendants' motivations and the legal boundaries of protest.
