Protestors who stormed Epsom Derby have charges dropped

by · Mail Online

All charges have been dropped against six women who stormed the racetrack during the Derby in an animal rights protest witnessed by thousands of spectators.

Six members of Animal Rising broke into one of the country’s biggest horse races two years ago but have just been told they will not face a crown court trial.

The charges against them of causing a public nuisance at the track in Epsom, Surrey, have been dropped.

They include Rose Patterson, 35, one of Animal Rising’s leaders. She said crown lawyers have lost their ‘appetite for prosecuting people trying to make the world a better place’ after dozens of protesters from Just Stop Oil and other groups have been locked up. She also pointed to the prison overcrowding crisis.

The protesters broke onto the track before 4.30pm on June 4, 2022, minutes before the race was due to start.

An animal rights activist is detained after running onto the racecourse on June 4, 2022
Six women were arrested on day two of the Epsom Derby in 2022

Police dragged the group, then known as Animal Rebellion, off the grass as spectators including those in the Royal Box looked on.

The event went ahead and was won by Desert Crown.

The ‘Epsom Six’ had been due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Friday to enter pleas.

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But they were told by a senior crown prosecutor the case was being dropped as there was ‘not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction’.

Charges against Greenpeace protesters who climbed onto former Prime Minister’s Rishi Sunak’s home in Yorkshire were also dropped on Friday.

Both decisions come amid an overcrowding crisis in which Labour has freed thousands of prisoners early to free up space.

Last year Patterson, of east London, was exposed by the Mail on Sunday of attempting to disrupt the 2023 Grand National and arrested but not charged so far.

She was charged with kidnapping lambs from the Sandringham Estate in 2023 for which she is due to be tried in November.

Police and members of security worked to remove the six women from the racecourse
Police dragged the group, then known as Animal Rebellion, off the grass as spectators including those in the Royal Box looked on
The women were arrested but charges have since been dropped
The protesters broke onto the track before 4.30pm on June 4, 2022, minutes before the race was due to start
The 'Epsom Six' were due to appear at Guildford Crown Court (pictured) on Friday

Claudia Penna Rojas, 26, of Brighton, another of the Epsom group, said they stood by their actions.

‘These charges being dropped is another step towards the end of racing in Britain, and a kinder future for all life,’ she said.

Their protest aimed to mirror that of suffragette Emily Davison, 40, who died after running in front of the King’s horse at the Derby in 1913 on the same date.