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Three women involved in a protest at a factory in Newcastle have been found guilty of causing criminal damage after targeting the site over its purported connections to Israel. The incident took place at Pearson Engineering, owned by the Israeli government through Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. During the protest in February 2025, the women employed various disruptive tactics, including an eight-hour rooftop stand-off and dumping rubble from a truck, aiming to halt the factory’s operations.
Hollie Mildenhall, 25, and Georgia Coote, 28, both from Newcastle, stayed on the roof of the facility while Summer Oxlade, 29, from Houghton-le-Spring, was responsible for unloading rubble. The protest involved spraying red paint over the premises, cutting through razor wire, and smashing illuminated panels on the company’s large sign. The estimated damage from their actions amounted to approximately £6,800, and the factory’s production was interrupted for a full day. Despite their intent to disrupt what they considered an unjust supply of weapons allegedly used against Palestinians, jurors ruled that their actions were unlawful.
Throughout the trial, the women argued that their disruption was necessary to prevent the sending of weapons that could cause harm in Palestine. They described the factory as “complicit” in a genocide and accused it of producing machines for war crimes, which they claimed to be illegal. The protesters wore keffiyehs, a symbol associated with Palestinian solidarity, and expressed their support vocally, including shouting “free Palestine” upon leaving the courtroom. However, the court heard that representatives from Pearson Engineering denied supplying any products to Israel and emphasized that the company produced defensive military equipment for the UK and allied nations only.
Judge Edward Bindloss ruled that the defendants could not use several criminal damage defenses because their actions did not fit the legal criteria. He criticized the trio for taking the law into their own hands instead of pursuing lawful measures to address their concerns. The judge suggested that the women should have gathered evidence and presented it to authorities rather than resorting to damaging property. Sentencing for the three women is scheduled for 29 April
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