Sean Middlebrough, a 33-year-old member of the group Palestine Action, has been convicted in his absence of criminal damage following a break-in at a British defense firm. Middlebrough, originally from Liverpool, disappeared in October last year after being granted bail for his brother's wedding and has since referred to himself as a "prisoner of war."
His trial proceeded this summer without him, and a jury found him guilty of criminal damage by a majority of nine to one. Prosecutors argued that Middlebrough helped plan and organize the August 2024 incident at Elbit Systems in Bristol, a defense company with Israeli parentage. The break-in occurred 10 months before the UK government banned Palestine Action under counter-terrorism legislation.
During the incident, other members of the group rammed a van into the Elbit facility and destroyed equipment, including military drones they believed were destined for Gaza. Elbit Systems stated that the claim is untrue and that no products made at the Bristol site are sent to Israel.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Middlebrough's role included participation in a planning meeting in Liverpool facilitated by encrypted communications. He provided £890 to fund the operation, with £600 allegedly used by another organizer to purchase equipment for the break-in. This equipment included sledgehammers, one of which was used by Samuel Corner to fracture the spine of a police officer who was intervening.
Corner has since been sentenced to seven years and eight months for criminal damage and inflicting grievous bodily harm. The jury at Middlebrough's trial did not learn why he was not present in court with the seven other defendants.
Middlebrough was convicted of criminal damage in August. However, the trial for all eight defendants on other charges ended without further verdicts, and a retrial is tentatively scheduled for June 2028. Seven of the eight defendants, including Middlebrough, face an additional charge of violent disorder, all of which they deny.
Before his disappearance, Middlebrough had been remanded in custody and sent podcast recordings to supporters from jail, describing himself as a political prisoner. These recordings were published on Spotify before prison authorities intervened.
Disappearance After Bail Decision
On October 20 of the previous year, a judge granted Middlebrough temporary bail to attend his brother's wedding. He was allowed to travel to Liverpool and briefly stay in West Yorkshire, with an order to surrender himself at HMP Wandsworth in south London by October 24. He failed to appear, and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued.
Police suspect Middlebrough, also known as Shibby, was aided in leaving the UK by a well-organized network of supporters. Following his disappearance, he sent messages to supporters, which have been published, stating his refusal to be "held as an Israeli prisoner of war in a British prison."
Reporting on Middlebrough's conviction was delayed due to a separate prosecution involving an alleged plot for a Palestine Action-themed protest at Boris Johnson's 2022 wedding party. Middlebrough's trial for that allegation has been postponed indefinitely for legal reasons.
Judge Patrick Field KC lifted the reporting restriction on Middlebrough's conviction for the Elbit break-in at a hearing on Monday morning. He is the fifth supporter of Palestine Action to be convicted in connection with the attack. Two more trials involving alleged participants are anticipated.