Protestors who sprayed paint on Radcliffe Camera sentenced

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.

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.

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.

In a statement following the pair's conviction, the University of Oxford said: "This was an act of vandalism and yesterday's court sentences reflect that."

"While the University supports lawful free speech, it does not support illegal action, including unlawful protesting like this, and may, within its powers, take any steps it considers appropriate against any student guilty of such behaviour."

Knorr had been a student at the university at the time of the protest, but had since left, an Oxford spokesperson added.