Climate change activist who tied himself to goalpost at Premier League match given six-week prison sentence

30 September 2022, 18:48 | Updated: 30 September 2022, 21:43

A climate change protester who tied himself to the goalpost at a Premier League match has been handed a six-week prison sentence.

Louis McKechnie denied aggravated trespass and going onto the playing area at the game at Everton's Goodison Park stadium on March 17, but was found guilty at a trial at South Sefton Magistrates' Court today.

He told the court he was hoping to save lives through his actions, which saw him use a metal-enforced zip tie to attach himself the frame of the goal by his neck.

Sentencing McKechnie, District Judge Wendy Lloyd said: "I have no doubt from what you have told me that you're passionate about your cause. Not very passionate about football, apparently."

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She said his actions were "reckless" and "potentially very dangerous".

The 21-year-old was given a six-week prison sentence for aggravated trespass, but the court heard he had already served that sentence, having been in custody since July.

Simon Jones, prosecuting, said he entered the pitch at the Gwladys Street end of Premier League club's ground at the start of the second half of the match against Newcastle United.

McKechnie, who was wearing an orange Just Stop Oil T-shirt, was on the pitch for around 10 minutes while stewards attempted to remove him, Mr Jones said.

Footage filmed for a YouTube video showed the activist descending the steps in the stand and climbing over a gate to get onto the pitch, as one fan shouted at him: "F*** off, you blert."

The game was extended by 14 minutes following the disruption, the court heard.

PC Colin White, who arrested McKechnie after he was carried off the pitch, told the court a supporter attempted to assault the protestor.

He added: "At that time in the football season Everton were struggling so there was great frustration in the crowd already.

"When Mr McKechnie went onto the pitch and attached himself to the goalpost there was a lot of frustration, there was a lot of shouting, a lot of abuse and the occasional missile was being thrown onto the pitch in the direction of the goal."

McKechnie told the court Just Stop Oil was a civil resistance group which wanted the Government to act to end the use of fossil fuels.

He said: "We came up with the idea of how do we get the most eyes on that name, Just Stop Oil, and of course, in this day and age, football is the biggest cultural phenomenon there is."

McKechnie said he chose the fixture because Everton were playing Newcastle - a football team sponsored by oil company Saudi Aramco.

He added: "Hopefully, public awareness will bring public action which might actually, if we can get the Government to listen to us, might actually save a lot of lives.

"If it's a chance of saving a billion lives, it's worth it no matter the odds."

Laura O'Brien, defending, said he was responding to the climate emergency and what he believed were failing democratic processes.

She said: "While the world watches this billion-pound enterprise that is Premier League football, which people are captivated by, he is taking the message to them that we need to Just Stop Oil."

The court heard McKechnie had previous convictions for aggravated trespass and wilfully obstructing the highway.

He was also given a £50 fine, or one day in detention, for going onto the playing area, made subject to a three-year football banning order, and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.