Animal rights activists deny drilling holes in 200 tyres at Willenhall Muller milk depot
A group of animal rights protesters accused of drilling holes into around 200 tyres at a Willenhall milk depot have denied the allegations.
Nine defendants pleaded not guilty to an offence of criminal damage at Muller Wiseman Dairies in Ashmore Lake Way in Willenhall on September 6, 2022 at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
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Imogen Robertson, aged 24; of King Street, Stirling; Hannah Torrance-Bright; Eilidh McFadden, both aged 24 of Bonhill Road, Dumbarton; Tobias Brown, aged 51, of Rixon Road, Cheltenham; Ben Thorburn, aged 25, of Balden Road; Sarah Benn, aged 59, of Balden Road, both Harborne, Birmingham; Calum Marshall, aged 27, of Hope Park Terrace, Edinburgh; Sarah Foy, aged 25, of North Street, South Normanton; and Kat Chan, aged 24, of Hamiltonhill Gardens, Glasgow, all denied the allegations on Monday.
Judge Michael Chambers set dates for trials in May and September next year relating to protest action by Animal Rising supporters during which vehicles belonging to Muller and their contractors were allegedly damaged and a video of the incident posted online.
The judge said: "These is a serious case with potential serious consequences. These are criminal charges and will be dealt with in a criminal court, not a political court."
All nine defendants were granted bail.