Animal rights protestors arrested at English Greyhound Derby in Northamptonshire fined a total of £60,000

Four animal rights activists arrested for trying to disrupt a major sporting event at Towcester Racecourse have been handed fines totalling £60,000.

Alexandra Dunnet, aged 24, of Market Place, East Finchley, London, Edward Allnutt, aged 42, Sasha Joliffe, aged 46, and 21-year-old Joseph Moss, all of no fixed abode, were convicted for aggravated trespass.

Northampton Magistrates Court heard how the defendants, who were all linked to the Animal Rising protest group, had attempted to disrupt the English Greyhound Derby – the premier UK greyhound racing event – on July 1 last year.

Allnutt was further charged with going equipped to lock on, under Section 2 of the Public Order Act 2023, making his one of the first convictions of its type in UK legal history.

A large police operation was mounted to ensure the event went off without incident, but the protestors broke into the race circuit and attempted to storm the track.

Allnutt, Moss and Joliffe were each sentenced to nine weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with Dunnett handed a six-week suspended sentence.

All were ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and complete 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

But magistrates also ordered the four to pay compensation of £15,000 – split between Northamptonshire Police and Towcester Racecourse – in addition to costs of £850 each.

All four were made subject to a restraining order not to enter or attend any sporting activity involving greyhound racing anywhere in the UK.

Allnutt received no separate penalty for the offence of going equipped to lock on.

Chief Inspector Pete Basham, who led the policing of the protest, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the sentences handed down by the court, in particular the very significant financial penalties imposed. They send out a clear message to people determined to disrupt perfectly legal events that their actions will not be tolerated and they risk heavy fines for breaking the law.

“Northamptonshire Police mounted a significant, but proportionate public order operation to minimise disruption and as a result public safety was maintained throughout and the spectators were able to see all races completed as scheduled."