Birmingham man charged over Stonehenge orange powder protest

A pensioner from Birmingham has been charged over a Just Stop Oil protest at Stonehenge. It comes after orange powder was sprayed on the ancient monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire earlier this year.

Rajan Naidu, 73, of Gosford Street, Balsall Heath, and Niamh Lynch, 22, a student from Bedford, have been charged with destroying or damaging an ancient protected monument, and intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance following the incident on June 19.

Wiltshire Police said the pair are on bail. They are set to appear before JPs at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on December 13.

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Sophie Stevens, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Wiltshire Police to charge Naidu Rajan and Niamh Lynch with offences related to damage caused to the protected monument Stonehenge on June 19.

“I would like to remind all concerned that there are active criminal proceedings against these individuals, and they have the right to a fair trial. There must be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online that may in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Following the protest, English Heritage said experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones.