Just Stop Oil climate protesters tried to halt The Open

Three Just Stop Oil protesters deliberately disrupted the Open Golf Championship by throwing orange powder, letting off a smoke flare and sitting on the golf course, a trial has heard.

The trio breached the perimeter of the roped-off 17th hole at the course in Wirral, Merseyside, to be greeted with angry shouting from the crowd, while golfer Billy Horschel helped a marshall to remove one demonstrator.

George Birch, Noah Crane and Lucy Timlin, have denied charges of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance at Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake on 21 July 2023.

The judge at Liverpool Crown Court warned jurors to ignore a silent protest outside the court.

Opening the case, Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, told the jury the three-day tournament was viewed by hundreds of thousands of members of the public both on television and at the course with various professional and semi-professional golfers competing to win the coveted trophy and a £3m prize fund.

The jury, which was shown police body-cam and other footage of the defendants, heard Mr Crane, now 19, was the first to cross the perimeter of the viewing area.

Wearing a distinctive white T shirt embossed with Just Stop Oil he held a flare high above his head emitting orange smoke, Ms Smith said.

He was booed and shouted at by spectators as he walked across the grassed area as they expressed “their displeasure at the defendant for disrupting their enjoyment”.

Ms Timlin ran onto the green and 17th hole area as Mr Crane was arrested and removed before throwing orange powder, running a short distance and then sitting down, the trial heard.

Miss Smith continued, “It is at this stage, having put his marker down and unable to take a shot that the professional golfer Billy Horschel walks, from where he is stood down the green to assist a marshal in removing Ms Timlin, who is continuing to cause an obstruction.”

Mr Birch, now 21, entered the restricted area and was grounded by a marshal he was until removed by police.

Miss Smith claimed the defendants “either knew their actions would disrupt play” or could have reasonably foreseen it.

As the hearing began, Judge Gary Woodhall made the jury aware of a silent protest outside the court, warning them to set aside feelings or prejudices and sympathy or lack of sympathy.

The court heard Mr Birch, of Forest Road, Huncote, Leicestershire, Mr Crane, of Aylsham Road, Buxton, near Norwich, and Ms Timlin, 46, of High Lane in Chorlton, Manchester, all made no comment when later questioned.

The trial continues.