Three individuals staged an eight-hour protest at Pearson Engineering in Newcastle, causing £6,800 worth of damage to the factory, according to a court hearing. The protest, which took place on 18 February 2025, involved two women scaling the roof of the factory and a third attempting to chain herself to a truck. The defendants—Hollie Mildenhall, 25, Georgia Coote, 28, and Summer Oxlade, 29—deny charges of criminal damage.

Factory’s Alleged Links to Israel

The factory, located at the Armstrong Works site on Scotswood Road, has been a target of multiple protests since 2023. David Guthrie, head of security at the site, testified that the factory produces military equipment for a UK-based company owned by an Israeli defence firm, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. However, the company has not supplied any equipment to the Israeli state, according to the court.

Guthrie explained that the factory’s operations are subject to strict UK government oversight, with export licences controlling the supply of military equipment. Records dating back to 2014 showed no equipment or machinery had been supplied to Israel. In 2024, the UK introduced a policy prohibiting UK firms from selling goods to Israel that could be used in the Gaza conflict.

Details of the Protest

The protest began around 05:20 GMT on 18 February 2025, when Mildenhall and Coote climbed onto the roof of the factory’s gatehouse. Oxlade dumped rubble from a flatbed truck in the entrance before attempting to chain herself to the vehicle. The two women on the roof sprayed red paint from fire extinguishers, cut through razor wire, and smashed two illuminated panels of the firm’s large sign.

Two men dressed in black also sprayed red paint at the building before fleeing. The protest drew support from a group of onlookers, and it took eight hours for police to remove the protesters from the roof. Cleaning up the red paint cost £700, repairing the damaged sign was £1,576, and the razor wire repair cost £3,560. An additional £936.72 was spent on staff hours for the clean-up, according to Guthrie.

Legal and Social Implications

The trial has sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and property rights, especially in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Guthrie acknowledged the protesters’ intent to highlight the factory’s potential role in the conflict, though he emphasized that no direct link to the Israeli state had been established.

The factory’s acquisition by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems in 2022 has raised questions about the company’s connections to the Israeli government. Guthrie admitted he was uncertain about the extent of these connections, but the company’s records show no direct supply to Israel.

As the trial continues, the case may set a precedent for how courts handle protests targeting businesses perceived to be linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Legal experts suggest the outcome could influence future protests and the legal boundaries around such demonstrations.

The court will hear further evidence in the coming days, with the defendants expected to present their defense in the next phase of the trial. The case has drawn attention from local communities and activist groups, highlighting the growing tensions between corporate interests and public dissent over international conflicts.