Mller Dairy Protests Lead to Unpaid Work Orders for Protesters

In 2022, a series of animal rebellion protests took place at four different dairy farms across the country. Two activists who were previously found guilty for blocking a milk factory owned by Muller in Worcestershire have now been fined and ordered to perform community service.

Kat Chan, aged 23, and Ben Pattison, 31, climbed onto trucks, milk silos and loading bays during the blockade of the Droitwich factory last September. Some protesters also glued themselves to the ground or chained themselves to fences as part of their campaign to promote plant-based eating.

The Worcester Crown Court heard that Chan was convicted for conspiracy to commit criminal damage, having an article with intent to destroy or damage property, while Pattison received a conviction for intentionally causing public nuisance. They were both ordered to complete up to 240 hours of unpaid work and pay fines exceeding 1,000 each.

In addition to the Droitwich factory, dairy plants in Gloucestershire and Somerset were also targeted as was Arla’s milk factory in Buckinghamshire by climate protesters. Five other defendants have been previously sentenced with community service orders ranging from 120 to 240 hours.