Heathrow Paint Attack Trial Ends in Hung Jury – Retrial Set for 2026
Just Stop Oil Activists Avoid Verdict After Bold Heathrow Protest
The trial of two Just Stop Oil activists accused of spraying orange paint on Heathrow Airport departure boards has ended in a hung jury after nine days at Isleworth Crown Court. Phoebe Plummer and Jane Touil will face a retrial in May 2026.
The Heathrow Orange Paint Stunt
On 30 July 2024, Plummer and Touil used fire extinguishers filled with water-based orange paint to vandalise the airport’s departure boards. Part of the “Oil Kills” campaign, the act aimed to push for a global fossil fuel treaty to end oil and gas use by 2030.
The Crown claims the damage caused was worth a staggering £50,000. Both women face charges of criminal damage over £5,000.
Judge Duncan dismissed their defence of necessity, ruling that civil disobedience couldn’t justify the damage. He also rejected their climate change beliefs as irrelevant to the case.
Past Convictions and Next Steps
Phoebe Plummer is already behind bars serving two years for throwing soup on a Van Gogh painting in 2022. She’s appealing that sentence with a hearing set for 29 January 2025. After the Heathrow stunt, Plummer was remanded for 58 days, while Touil spent 14 days in custody.
The pair will return to court in May 2026 for the retrial.
Activists Speak Out From the Dock
“It is not accurate to say that I am acting on my beliefs. It is not ‘a cause’. This is physics, an objective reality. I can see that everything is at risk. We only do the right thing if we know what’s going on.” – Jane Touil
“I have struggled with not being able to talk about the climate crisis—hearing it being called irrelevant feels inhumane and dishonest. I cannot be a bystander to suffering where I see it.” – Phoebe Plummer
Plummer compared her actions to a doctor breaking a rib during CPR, arguing context is vital when judging intent.
Trial Troubles and Just Stop Oil’s Future
The trial was marred by logistical problems, including faulty heating in holding cells operated by private firm Serco. This glitch prevented Plummer from delivering her closing speech in court. A Just Stop Oil supporter described the proceedings as “mismanaged prosecution and logistical nightmares.”
Just Stop Oil is gearing up for fresh protests in 2025, calling on sympathisers to join their cause. Details and sign-ups are available at juststopoil.org.
