Three Women Sentenced for Newcastle Factory Protest Damage

Three women have been ordered to complete unpaid work and pay compensation after a court convicted them of causing criminal damage during a protest at a Newcastle factory. The women entered the Pearson Engineering site on Scotswood Road at about 05:20 GMT on 18 February 2025.

Two climbed onto the roof of the gatehouse while the third dumped rubble from a truck at the entrance and later tried to chain herself to the vehicle. They sprayed red paint from fire extinguishers and used a slingshot in an attempt to break windows.

A court heard that the protest lasted until about 13:40, preventing day-shift staff from entering the building. The damage cost nearly £7,500 to repair and affected two security guards whose coats were ruined. Prosecutors stated the women aimed to disrupt production because of their belief that military equipment was being made for use in Gaza.

The women were each ordered to pay £600 in compensation and received 12-month community orders. One was required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and the other two were ordered to complete 80 hours each. The court did not impose restraining orders.

The factory is owned by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, an Israeli-state owned weapons company. A company representative told the court that no items built at the Tyneside site had been supplied to Israel. The women had argued their actions were lawful because the disruption would prevent weapons from reaching Gaza, but the court found the actions illegal.

The women had no previous convictions except for minor prior matters unrelated to the current case. Their lawyers described the protest as non-violent and asked the court to consider the women's concerns about the factory's activities.