Two Norfolk climate activists are among seven women to have gone on trial charged with smashing windows at the headquarters of Barclays bank in London. 

Gabby Ditton, 28, and Niki Stickells, 52, are said to have been involved in causing £114,000 of damage to six windows during an Extinction Rebellion protest at Canary Wharf in April 2021.

Eastern Daily Press: The seven women from Extinction Rebellion sit down in front of Barclays HQ immediately following the actionThe seven women from Extinction Rebellion sit down in front of Barclays HQ immediately following the action (Image: Gareth Morris))

Protesters wore patches reading ‘better broken windows than broken promises’ and placed stickers on the windows of the bank reading ‘in case of climate emergency break glass’ before cracking the glass using hammers and chisels.

The seven women, who include others from Leeds, Dorchester, Swansea and London, have pleaded not guilty to criminal damage and a jury trial at Southwark Crown Court began on Tuesday (November 22).

It is the first of six upcoming trials over Extinction Rebellion window breaking protests.

Of seven jury trials involving protesters from the climate direct action group that have taken place to date, three have resulted in not guilty verdicts.