An animal rights activist has told jurors it was "preposterous" she had tried to intimidate two police officers in relation to charges over protests at Norwich Livestock Market.

Gemma Barnes, 34, and Elenor Kenny, 19, are on trial accused of following, filming and making a string of derogatory comments towards the officers including accusing them of lying in court proceedings.

Norwich Crown Court has heard Sergeant Kelly Larkin and PC Dean Horgan were "bombarded with slurs, accusations and comments" with the "intention to intimidate".

Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) It was after they attended a  hearing at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on May 23 last year in which the two women were defendants. 

Giving evidence in her defence on Monday, Barnes was asked by her barrister Maria Liddiard whether she intended to intimidate the police officers.

Gemma Barnes at a previous court hearingGemma Barnes at a previous court hearing (Image: Newsquest) She said: "Absolutely not".

She insisted the idea she would do that was "preposterous".

"I had no intention to intimidate - it's about accountability".

Barnes denied calling the officers "fascist pigs" when she was at the magistrates court.

She said: "I absolutely refute that."

Barnes said likening police officers to pigs was "offensive to pigs".

On leaving court Barnes said she left with Kenny and another man intending to go to Norwich Market to buy some tofu.

As they headed up Tombland they saw the two police officers who had been in court earlier.

She said the man they were with - who has some mental health issues - "wanted to raise some issues" with the police.

She said she was "concerned" about her friend and "quite reluctantly followed" him.

She set up her phone to record her friend as he approached the officers to help "supervise" him.

She said he had questions for the police about "the general treatment of certain demographics".

Barnes said Sgt Larkin behaved "histrionically" telling them to "leave me alone, I feel distressed".

She said Sgt Larkin was being "hyperbolic".

She said she questioned Sgt Larkin as to whether she was a police officer as she was being "pathetic".

Barnes, previously of St Leonards Road in Norwich, and Kenny, of Ashleigh Gardens in Wymondham, both deny the charges of intimidation intended to obstruct, pervert or interfere with ongoing court proceedings.

The trial continues.