An activist allegedly arrived at the estate of a Conservative Party donor with a vandal kit, intending to spray the word "Palestine" on the lawn during Boris and Carrie Johnson's wedding celebrations, a court has heard.
Tim Speers, 41, is accused of agreeing to carry out the act at Daylesford House, the 1,500-acre Cotswolds estate owned by Lord Anthony Bamford, on July 29, 2022, the day before the wedding party was scheduled to take place.
Police officers, present at the venue as part of a security operation for the private event, reportedly apprehended Speers at an indoor riding school. They stated he appeared out of place and disheveled while drinking a beer.
Prosecutors allege that the planned stunt was intended to be high-profile and generate public attention. In a voice note presented in court, Speers is heard telling a friend that he had been contacted by "Palestine Action" and had agreed to perform an action, acknowledging the potential for arrest due to trespassing. He reportedly believed such an action would be justifiable through the court system.
When arrested, officers discovered a piece of paper with "Media Team" written on it hidden inside a copy of "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" in Speers' possession.
Speers, from Bude in Cornwall, denies one count of possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property. His trial is ongoing at Southwark Crown Court.
Jurors were also informed that a second man, Sean Middlebrough, was arrested at the same estate but will face a separate trial after failing to appear in court.
The court heard that Speers allegedly targeted Lord Bamford's estate because the peer chairs JCB, a company Speers claims is responsible for demolishing Palestinian homes.
Prosecutors stated that prior to encountering the police, the two men had spoken with a security guard on the estate, who questioned their presence. One of the men reportedly responded that their business was none of the guard's concern.
Inside Speers' backpack, authorities found two cans of line marker paint in red and white, a can of black high-temperature paint, and super glue. The prosecution suggested these items indicated the men might have been in the area to cause disruption and attract media attention or stage a protest.
Boris and Carrie Johnson, then 62 and 38 respectively, held their wedding celebration at Daylesford House, which features an organic farm and an 18th-century orangery.