Race protesters cleared of public nuisance charge

A group of animal rights activists have been cleared of wrongdoing after staging a protest at Doncaster Racecourse.

The two men and three women, who were part of the organisation Animal Rising, sat on the track to protest against horse racing on 6 May 2023, delaying a race's start time.

They were all charged with causing a public nuisance but were cleared at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday when the prosecution offered no evidence.

It follows the acquittal of several animal rights activists who were accused of causing a public nuisance during protests at the 2023 Grand National race meeting.

The court heard that the case had been reviewed following receipt of evidence from the defence and the Crown considered there would no longer be a "realistic prospect of conviction".

Rosalind Burgin and Bethany Currie, defending, argued a conviction would amount to a disproportionate interference with the defendants' Article 10 and 11 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The cleared defendants were:

• Zara Verryt, 37, of Sheldon Road, Sheffield

• Johanna Grace, 30, of Nether Edge, Sheffield

• Sarah Foy, 26, of North Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire

• Cameron Matthews, previously known as Joshua Lane, 29, of Myrtle Road, Sheffield.

Fifth defendant Thomas Foy, 24, of Dannah Street in Ripley, Derbyshire, died during proceedings, the CPS confirmed.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North