Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
Stephanie Richards

Three Extinction Rebellion protestors fined after pleading guilty to property damage in Adelaide

A police officer and windows covered in paint following Extinction Rebellion's protest outside Santos on Thursday. (ABC News: Michael Clements )

Three Extinction Rebellion activists have been spared jail after pleading guilty to causing property damage during a protest outside the Santos building in Adelaide.

New South Wales resident Sarah Edwards, 49, admitted spraying paint on the building and on two police officers' uniforms.

Victorian Brad Homewood, 50, also admitted using a fire extinguisher to spray paint onto the building.

Both were arrested on Thursday at the protest and spent the night in the Adelaide City Watch House.

They received suspended seven-day jail terms and 12-month good behaviour bonds on Friday.

A third protester, 68-year-old Victorian woman Heike Weber, was released on bail on Thursday.

She pleaded guilty to a lesser sentence of graffiti and received a 12-month good behaviour bond.

All three were ordered to split the $5,345 damage bill to the Santos building, with each to pay $1,781.

Edwards was also ordered to pay SA Police $5,346.28 to compensate for the damage to the officers' uniforms.

In sentencing, Magistrate Michael Barnett said the offenders' behaviour was deliberate and pre-meditated.

"You have a right to protest, but not to damage property," he said.

The maximum penalty for property damage in South Australia is 10 years' imprisonment.

Outside of court, Homewood, Edwards and Weber were greeted by fellow Extinction Rebellion protesters holding flags.

Homewood said he had "no regrets" about his offending.

"We're in a climate and ecological emergency," he said.

"I think what we did was proportionate to what's going on."

Edwards said she would "continue to support anyone that takes action to protect this planet".

Asked if she would cause property damage again, she said: "Not today".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.