A 21-year-old man and a 24-year-old man have been sentenced after admitting involvement in an incident at the Radcliffe Camera at Oxford University.
Noah Crane and Daniel Knorr faced charges of criminal damage following an event on October 10, 2023, involving the historic 18th-century building housing the university’s Bodleian Library.
The pair conducted a stationary demonstration outside the structure, which is not accessible to members of the public, before applying orange paint to its exterior.
Prosecutors stated the men had prepared fire extinguishers containing paint with the purpose of damaging the Oxford University building.
This resulted in an additional charge of possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property.
Following the demonstration, the paint was removed from the building using high-pressure water equipment.
Both defendants faced one count of criminal damage valued at £2,984.83, along with one count of possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property, specifically referring to two fire extinguishers that had been filled with paint.
Crane entered guilty pleas to the offences prior to the commencement of proceedings.
Knorr entered denials and was subsequently found guilty of both charges through unanimous decisions by a jury on September 24, 2024.
During sentencing, Knorr received a 20-week custodial sentence that was suspended for a period of two years.
He was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and pay £4,380 in costs.
Crane was handed a 16-week custodial sentence, also suspended for two years, along with a requirement to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,630 in costs.
The court was informed that Crane had previously been convicted of property damage and trespass at a theatrical production in London.
Knorr’s criminal record includes a previous incident of trespassing on the cricket pitch at Lord’s Cricket Ground, during which former England cricketer Jonny Bairstow physically removed him from the playing surface.
He had also previously served a two-year prison sentence for trespassing at Manchester Airport.