Protesters convicted of criminal damage and burglary after Elbit Systems UK break-in

A group of protesters have been found guilty of breaking into the head office of an international defence technology firm and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Stavit Sinai, 38, Ronnie Barkan, 47, Eliza Sarson-Diment, 24, Archie Sadler, 26, Finton Owens, 25, Jarvey Georgson, 26, and Paul Shortt, 50, used sledgehammers to smash windows and gain entry to the head office of Elbit Systems UK in Bristol on Sunday 15 May 2022.  

While inside, they caused thousands of pounds of damage to equipment and spray-painted messages such as “Free Palestine” onto the window blinds.

The group of seven were today each convicted of one count of burglary and one count of criminal damage at Bristol Crown Court.

They will be sentenced on 22 March, 2024.

Iain Jenkins, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS South West, said: “This case involved planned vandalism on a huge scale in the name of protest. As with all our cases where there is sufficient evidence and our legal test is met, these types of cases will continue to be robustly prosecuted.

“We want to thank Avon and Somerset Police for their diligence in the investigation and for working with us as a cohesive team to allow us to present our case, which today resulted in all defendants being found guilty.”