Three cleared over Just Stop Oil golf protest

Three Just Stop Oil protesters accused of deliberately disrupting the Open Golf Championship have been cleared of causing a public nuisance.

The trio breached the perimeter of the roped-off 17th hole at the course in Wirral, Merseyside, to be greeted with angry shouting from the crowd, while golfer Billy Horschel helped a marshall to remove one demonstrator.

George Birch, 21, Noah Crane, 20, and Lucy Timlin, 46, denied charges of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake on 21 July 2023.

A judge at Liverpool Crown Court directed the jury to deliver not guilty verdicts on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence.

The court heard how the incident unfolded during the three-day tournament which is viewed by hundreds of thousands of spectators, with golfer Billy Horschel helping a marshall to remove one demonstrator.

The jury was also shown police body-cam and other footage of the defendants, who were accused of throwing orange powder, letting off a smoke flare and sitting on the course.

The court heard Mr Birch, of Forest Road, Huncote, Leicestershire, Mr Crane, of Aylsham Road, Buxton, near Norwich, and Ms Timlin, of High Lane in Chorlton, Manchester, all made no comment when later questioned.

Judge Gary Woodhall said there was insufficient evidence that the group met the specific threshold for the charges, explaining that the prosecution had to prove they obstructed the right of the public at large and but they had only affected those around the 17th hole.

In the context of the whole day the effect had been minimal, he said.

Speaking outside court Mr Crane said it was the correct decision.

"No case to answer is the only sensible result. It was a five plus hour day of golf which we delayed for about three minutes," he said.

"Obviously a delay and obviously it's something serious people do deserve to watch the things they want to watch, but what they charged us with was public nuisance which is massively overcharging it.

"This is really the only logical decision."

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