Dyfed-Powys Police have welcomed the sentencing of four protestors who nearly caused a "catastrophically serious incident" at a factory in Presteigne.
The four were jailed after causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to Teledyne Labtech factory in Presteigne, which they thought were supplying weapons to Israel, in what the sentencing judge referred to as an “episode of destruction”.
They entered the factory wielding a sledgehammer, a crowbar, smoke cannisters and a fire extinguisher filled with red paint.
The group went on to smash computer equipment, monitors and furniture, and spray paint on machinery as well as over a memorial to a former employee at the factory who had died from cancer.
READ MORE:Hammer-wielding protestors behind destructive rampage at Powys factory jailed
In the chemical processing area, alkaline bath covers were smashed, causing fumes to leak from them which the manager of the plant described as close to being a “catastrophically serious incident”.
Senior investigating officer DCI Jonathan Rees said: “We welcome the sentencing of four people who caused significant damage at a local business.
“The cost of damage was extensive but their actions also impacted on staff, some of whom were inside the building at the time, and caused a large amount of disruption to the community.
“We would like to thank the staff and the community affected for their patience and understanding while the events of 9 December 2022 were thoroughly investigated so those responsible could be brought to justice.”
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Susan Bagshaw, 65, Morwenna Grey, 41, Tristan Dixon, 34 and Ruth Hogg, 40, had all been found guilty of conspiracy to cause criminal damage.
The four were acting as representatives of the group Palestine Action, a group opposed to the actions taken by the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza, and who say the factory was supplying circuit boards which were being used by defence companies whose products are used by the Israeli military.
The group had caused over £300,000 worth of damage to the factory which manufactures printed circuit boards. The company was then forced to secure the facility, at the cost of around £900,000 with repairs to the factory not expected to be complete until the autumn.
Palestine Action released a statement maintaining their view that the protestors were just trying to disrupt Israels access to weapons and said: “The four activists are the longest serving prisoners for taking action with Palestine Action to disrupt the war machine.
“The four activists who put their liberty on the line to break this chain of complicity should be upheld as the heroes they are, not imprisoned."
Hogg, who holds a Masters degree in fine art and worked at a gallery, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment after being found guilty of the offence after a trial.
Bagshaw, Grey and Dixon, who all pleaded guilty, were each handed 23 months in custody.
All four have served nearly seven months in prison on remand, and half of their sentences are expected to be served in prison, and the remainder on licence.
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