Animal Rights Activists Sentenced for Milk-Pouring Protests in Luxury Stores

Two members of Animal Rising received community orders for damaging property during 2022 demonstrations at Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges in London.

Sofia Fernandes Pontes, 28, and Stephen Bone, 42, admitted to theft and criminal damage for pouring milk on floors and displays in two high-end London stores in October 2022.
The protests targeted Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges, where they caused damages amounting to over £1,200, including potential risks to a £100,000 carpet.
Both activists were sentenced to community orders, with Bone required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and Pontes 40 hours, alongside compensation payments of £655.14 each.
The activists, part of the Animal Rising group, aimed to raise awareness about the need for a transition to plant-based food systems to combat environmental and societal issues.
The judge criticized their actions for causing inconvenience to the public and store staff, emphasizing that their motives did not justify the disruption and damage.