An animal rights activist who wore a ski mask to protest outside a poultry plant has admitted breaching her bail by encouraging others to film her.
Gemma Barnes, 33, was arrested during a demonstration at A.D. Harvey meat processing works in Bunwell on November 1 by Animal Justice Project, a group that campaigns for the end of animal farming.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told that despite attempting to hide her identity by wearing a mask she had been identified by police.
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Barnes, of St Leonards Road, Norwich, is subject to bail conditions ahead of standing trial next June accused of the intimidation of police witnesses in a harassment case related to protests at Norwich Livestock Market.
She denies the charges which involve allegations of posting photos and video of officers on social media.
Her bail conditions include a ban on her from either filming police herself or encouraging others to do so and any contact with her co-defendant.
Colette Harper, prosecuting, said during the protest she had been seen by police engaging with other activists filming and live streaming.
She accused police of being “robots” while being filmed and said: “what a waste of taxpayers' money”.
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Giving evidence the anti-meat activist denied she had breached her bail and claimed she had not known her co-defendant was also at the protest.
Maria Liddiard, mitigating, said: “People were already filming and her speaking to them was not encouraging them.”
But magistrates said she had “little regard for court orders”.
Finding her guilty, they decided against jailing but warned her any further breaches would result in imprisonment.
Barnes’ defence counsel had earlier attempted to have the case dismissed arguing bail breaches had legally to be dealt with inside 24 hours of an arrest.
But magistrates decided they did have jurisdiction because the hearing had begun minutes before the time limit was due to expire.
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