Animal Rights Protesters Receive Sentences for Milk-Pouring Incidents

Community orders have been imposed on two animal rights activists following milk-pouring incidents at a pair of upscale department stores located in central London. Sofia Fernandes Pontes, aged 28, and Stephen Bone, aged 42, both affiliated with the Animal Rising protest organization, received their sentences at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. On 7 October 2022, the two individuals took milk from Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges. Subsequently, they caused damage to display shelves and a carpet at Fortnum & Mason, and a cheese display at Selfridges. During a previous court session, they pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and two counts of criminal damage. Fernandes Pontes, a resident of Islington, received a one-year community order along with a requirement to complete 40 hours of unpaid labor. Bone, who resides in Essex, was given a two-year community order, which includes 100 hours of unpaid work. Furthermore, both individuals were mandated to pay £655 in compensation. Bone was also required to cover an extra £488 in prosecution expenses. At 11:35 BST, Bone and Fernandes Pontes gained entry to Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, where they removed milk from the shelves and poured it onto the shop’s floor. Footage captured them subsequently being led towards the exit by security personnel. Approximately an hour later, at around 12:30, they proceeded to Selfridges on Oxford Street, where they were recorded dousing a cheese display with milk. During the sentencing of the two, Judge Adam Hiddleston stated: “Your actions caused that damage as well as considerable inconvenience to both the store owners and members of the public.” He further commented: “In addition, the security cameras in the food hall at Selfridges had to be focussed on the area where you were involved and thus did not cover other areas, presenting a risk to the health and safety of the staff and members of the public.” The judge concluded by saying: “I have no doubt that none of this was of any concern to either of you.” In a statement issued by Animal Rising, Fernandes Pontes declared: “I don’t want to see children stuck in a world full of suffering thanks to extreme weather, food shortages, and the destruction of nature.” She continued: “Transitioning to a plant-based food system is absolutely essential if we want to see a better world for everyone, and we need to make sure that farmers are given adequate support to move into profitable and sustainable plant-based production.”