SUMMARY
- Just Stop Oil protesters convicted of aggravated trespass for disrupting Wimbledon matches with confetti and puzzle pieces.
- Wimbledon staff faced chaos after protesters scattered jigsaw pieces and orange confetti, prompting extensive cleanup efforts.
In a recent court ruling at the City of London Magistrates’ Court, three individuals associated with the Just Stop Oil movement have been convicted of aggravated trespass for their disruptive actions at the Wimbledon Championships. The defendants, identified as Deborah Wilde, 69, Simon Milner-Edwards, 67, and William Ward, 66, were found guilty of scaling a barrier and throwing confetti and puzzle pieces onto the Wimbledon courts.
Michelle Dite, operations director at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), testified that the protest created a chaotic scene, with jigsaw pieces and orange confetti scattered across the court, prompting Wimbledon staff to undertake extensive cleanup efforts using handpicking and leaf blowers.
In her testimony, Dite described the aftermath of the disruption as “very unsettling,” highlighting the impact on players who appeared to be “very frustrated, probably quite intimidated.” Despite the defendants’ denial of aggravated trespass, the judge ruled that their actions amounted to intentional disruption of the tennis matches, leading to their conviction on the charges brought against them.
🚨 BREAKING: Wimbledon Jigsaw Throwers Guilty but Still Defiant
⚖️ Deborah, Simon and William have been sentenced with conditional discharges and court costs.
🧡 In court today, Deborah said: “I don’t understand how the law can allow those causing heinous acts of genocide by… pic.twitter.com/cgPwZxZk6d
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) February 26, 2024
This escalation in disruption highlighted the security concerns at Wimbledon, prompting the AELTC to invest substantial resources into managing potential protests following similar incidents at other sporting events.
Despite the defendants’ denial of aggravated trespass, the judge unequivocally ruled that their actions constituted a deliberate and unlawful interference with the tennis matches, leading to their conviction on the charges brought against them. As the defendants await sentencing, the verdict serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in disruptive behavior at prestigious sporting events like Wimbledon.
Wimbledon matches disrupted by Just Stop Oil protesters
During the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, two matches on July 3rd were marred by unexpected disruptions orchestrated by Just Stop Oil protesters. Deborah Wilde and Simon Milner-Edwards entered Court 18 during a match between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro, wearing Just Stop Oil t-shirts.
Bodycam footage presented in court depicted the defendants tossing around 1,000 puzzle pieces and orange confetti onto the court, causing a disruption that left players visibly frustrated and unsettled. Later, William Ward also similarly joined the protest on the same court during a match involving British player Katie Boulter and Australia’s Daria Saville, eliciting louder disapproval from the crowd.
The protesters’ actions, intended to draw attention to environmental concerns and oppose new oil, gas, and coal projects, led to their arrest by Wimbledon security personnel. The incident not only interrupted the matches but also raised serious questions about the adequacy of security measures in place at the prestigious tournament.
Some fans drew parallels to past security breaches in sports history, such as Monica Seles’ on-court stabbing in 1993. Concerns were raised about the safety of athletes and the potential impact of disruptions on their performance as well as their emotional and mental well-being.
