Protestors who sprayed paint on Radcliffe Camera sentenced

1 hour ago

Ethan GudgeSouth of England

News image — Daniel Knorr and Noah Crane were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday

Hugh Warwick Daniel Knorr and Noah Crane standing outside of Oxford Crown Court. Knorr has medium length brown hair and is wearing a smart shirt. Crane has short dark hair and a dark beard. He appears scruffy, with a well-worn hoodie covered by a brown overcoat. — Daniel Knorr and Noah Crane were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday

Two activists from the group Just Stop Oil have received suspended prison sentences for covering an iconic University of Oxford building with paint.

Daniel Knorr and Noah Crane were arrested in October 2023 after the Radcliffe Camera was painted orange during a protest.

Following a trial this week, Knorr, 24, was found guilty of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and having an article with intent to destroy or damage property. Crane, 21, previously plead guilty to the same offences.

Knorr was given a 20-week sentence, suspended for two years, while Crane received 16 weeks, also suspended for two years.

Knorr, from London, was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs and a victim surcharge totalling £4,534.

Crane, of Norwich, received 120 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £1,784.

Adam Grassly Orange paint sprayed erratically in lines on the bottom third of the Radcliffe Camera. — The Just Stop Oil members daubed the building with its trademark orange paint

Environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil has carried out high-profile protests including blocking roads, stopping play at sports matches, and halting theatre productions.

Earlier in 2023, Knorr and two fellow protesters made it onto the pitch at Lord's during an Ashes test match, briefly stopping play.

Knorr was also previously jailed over a thwarted plan to glue himself, and three fellow activists, to the taxiway at Manchester Airport.

Crane and four other members of the group were convicted in 2024 after they stormed a performance of Les Misérables in London's West End.

PA Media England's Jonny Bairstow removes a Just Stop Oil protester from the pitch during day one of the second Ashes test match at Lord's, London. — England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried Knorr from the Lord's ground during an earlier protest

The Radcliffe Camera was built in the 1730s and is used as a reading room by the Bodleian Library.

Thames Valley Police said it received reports of criminal damage to the historic building at about midday on 10 October 2023.

Images of the incident showed the lower third of the structure partially coated in orange paint.

Following the incident, the University of Oxford said it "does not support illegal action, including any unlawful protesting, and may, within its powers, take any steps it considers appropriate against any student guilty of such behaviour".

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber called the protest "mindless vandalism".