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| Extinction Rebellion co-founder fined for smashing Barclays window | Extinction Rebellion co-founder fined for smashing Barclays window |
| (1 day later) | |
| Footage of Bradbrook smashing the window pane was broadcast on XR's social media channels | Footage of Bradbrook smashing the window pane was broadcast on XR's social media channels |
| A co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) group has been fined for smashing the window of a bank. | A co-founder of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) group has been fined for smashing the window of a bank. |
| Dr Gail Bradbrook, 50, used a mallet and chisel to smash through a pane of glass at Barclays Bank in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 20 March 2022. | Dr Gail Bradbrook, 50, used a mallet and chisel to smash through a pane of glass at Barclays Bank in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 20 March 2022. |
| Bradbrook, from Stroud, admitted her actions but denied a charge of criminal damage. | Bradbrook, from Stroud, admitted her actions but denied a charge of criminal damage. |
| At Taunton Magistrates' Court, she was ordered to pay a £575 fine, plus £678 in court costs and victim surcharge. | At Taunton Magistrates' Court, she was ordered to pay a £575 fine, plus £678 in court costs and victim surcharge. |
| The window pane cost £552.88 to replace and Bradbrook was further ordered to pay £563.94 in compensation to Barclays. | The window pane cost £552.88 to replace and Bradbrook was further ordered to pay £563.94 in compensation to Barclays. |
| Civil disobedience | Civil disobedience |
| During a half-day trial, Bradbrook compared her actions to those of the chartists, suffragettes and abolitionists. | During a half-day trial, Bradbrook compared her actions to those of the chartists, suffragettes and abolitionists. |
| She claimed she would have the consent of people working within the bank if they understood the realities of climate change. | She claimed she would have the consent of people working within the bank if they understood the realities of climate change. |
| Bradbrook said she had carried out the stunt early in the morning to minimise the risk of anyone being hurt and had brought a dustpan and brush to sweep up the broken glass. | Bradbrook said she had carried out the stunt early in the morning to minimise the risk of anyone being hurt and had brought a dustpan and brush to sweep up the broken glass. |
| She said civil disobedience was "how you make change happen". | She said civil disobedience was "how you make change happen". |
| "The purpose of civil disobedience is to hold the system to account," she continued. | "The purpose of civil disobedience is to hold the system to account," she continued. |
| Bradbrook told the court she believed there was a "revolving door" between big banks, major oil companies and the government. | Bradbrook told the court she believed there was a "revolving door" between big banks, major oil companies and the government. |
| The 50-year-old, who has a PhD in molecular biophysics, said that in the wake of XR's direct action, civil servants and bank executives had praised its work. | The 50-year-old, who has a PhD in molecular biophysics, said that in the wake of XR's direct action, civil servants and bank executives had praised its work. |
| Not 'peaceful protest" | Not 'peaceful protest" |
| Finding her guilty, District Judge Angela Brereton acknowledged climate change was a subject "close to the defendant's heart". | Finding her guilty, District Judge Angela Brereton acknowledged climate change was a subject "close to the defendant's heart". |
| But the judge found Bradbrook had produced no evidence or witnesses to support her claim that she had implied consent from people working within the bank to damage its windows. | But the judge found Bradbrook had produced no evidence or witnesses to support her claim that she had implied consent from people working within the bank to damage its windows. |
| She further found that Bradbrook had broken the window early in the morning to prevent anyone from stopping her, rather than to avoid anyone being harmed. | She further found that Bradbrook had broken the window early in the morning to prevent anyone from stopping her, rather than to avoid anyone being harmed. |
| Judge Brereton said the damage "fell outside the bounds of peaceful protest". | Judge Brereton said the damage "fell outside the bounds of peaceful protest". |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Extinction Rebellion | Extinction Rebellion |
| Stroud | Stroud |