Five ‘Love Activists’ locked up after illegally occupying the old Bank of England building in Liverpool will appeal against their sentences today.
Anti-capitalists John Hall, 50; John Rice, 23; Chelsea Stafford, 19; and James Jones, 20, were given 10 weeks behind bars at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
James Allanson, 20, who was also sentenced over an incident in Everton Park, was locked up for 13 weeks last Thursday.
The sentences led to chaotic scenes in and outside the court building, as supporters barricaded the main entrance and clashed with police.
Allanson, of Wetstone Lane, Birkenhead, and his four co-defendants, all of no fixed address, were among a larger group who entered the old bank in Castle Street on April 18.
The court heard the total policing cost of the occupation – part of a protest over lack of support for the homeless and government austerity – was nearly £120,000.
Meanwhile damage caused to the Grade-I listed structure, including graffiti and the removal of rubbish, plus legal and insurance costs, was estimated to have cost the building’s owners up to £46,000.
They obtained an interim possession order on April 28, meaning anyone inside had to leave within 24 hours or face being charged with trespass.
Prosecutors said police entered the premises in the early hours of May 12. The five defendants were all arrested and later pleaded guilty to trespass.
Hall had a previous conviction for possession with intent to supply cannabis, while Rice had a caution for possessing a Class B drug.
Jones previously obstructed a highway and Allanson had obstructed officers in Everton Park. Stafford had no previous convictions.
Defence barristers argued that there was no evidence to suggest the group were involved in any damage being caused to the building.
They said the defendants condemned whoever caused the damage and were people with “a deep moral conscience”.
The court heard they wanted to help the city’s homeless and provide them with food and somewhere to stay at a time of austerity and government-led service cuts.
However, District Judge Andrew Shaw said the historic building was “illegally occupied” and questioned the group’s charitable motives.
He said: “None of the defendants have done any work in the community to benefit the homeless.
“There is a genuine lack of sincerity in their actions, which have the appearance of a self indulgent vanity project.
“Their selfish actions cost this community highly both financially and also by disrupting the day to day life of the city and its people.”
The ‘Love Activists’ have since launched a campaign to ’Free the Love Bank 5’.
In a statement on the group’s Facebook page, they said they were “outraged and disgusted” by the sentences.
The five defendants will appear at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, before Judge Steven Everett.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/