Suspended sentences handed down for anti-dairy campaigners
- Animal Rising Press
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Nine Animal Rising campaigners were sentenced today (27/02/26) at Wolverhampton Crown Court for “conspiracy to commit criminal damage” as part of an Animal Rising campaign that targeted dairy giants Müller, Arla, and Freshways dairy facilities, immobilising dairy trucks and leading to milk shortages across the nation. [1]
[Müller trucks immobilised by campaigners in 2022]
All 9 pleaded guilty on 14/11/25 at Wolverhampton Crown Court to conspiracy to commit criminal damage, after taking part in Animal Rising’s 2022“Stop the Supply” dairy campaign that blockaded dairy giant Müller’s depot in Willenhal. [2]
All nine received sentences ranging from 12-15 months, suspended for two years, and four were ordered to pay £500 each in compensation costs.
Animal Rising cited the harmful impact of animal agriculture on the climate crisis, as well as the inhumane treatment of cows in the dairy industry, as justification for their actions. They stated they were advocating for a plant-based food system in order to create a kind and sustainable future for both human and animal life.
11 defendants were charged in total; two entered not guilty pleas on 14/11/25 and are due to stand trial.
Claudia Penna Rojas, Animal Rising spokesperson, said:
“No sentence handed down today changes the reality that industrial animal agriculture is causing profound environmental destruction and animal suffering. Dairy farming in particular harms animals, people and the planet. We urgently need to see a transition towards a sustainable plant-based food system that respects animals as sentient beings.
“Dairy production is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution and biodiversity collapse. Millions of cows endure repeated forced impregnation, the routine separation of mothers and calves, and lives confined to industrial conditions that put profit over welfare. This model isn’t sustainable morally or environmentally.”
A report released last month by the UK government on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security made it clear that “food production is the most significant cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss” and that “the UK is unable to be food self-sufficient at present, based on current diets and prices”. [3]
A high-profile study published in Nature Food (2023) found that a global shift towards plant-rich diets could reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% and significantly reduce agricultural land use, enabling rewilding and carbon sequestration. [4]
A 2023 study by Oxford University also showed that a plant-based diet has the lowest impact on the environment in all areas analysed, including emissions, land-use, water-use and biodiversity loss [5].
ENDS
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About Animal Rising
The group has used a variety of civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action tactics, notably blockading McDonald's distribution centres in May 2021, blockading dairy industry sites in September 2022, rescuing 23 beagle puppies from the animal testing industry in 2022, delaying the Grand National race in 2023, rescuing lambs belonging to King Charles II in May 2023, and carrying out the UK’s largest undercover farm investigation in 2024.
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Notes to Editors
[1] https://www.animalrising.org/post/animal-rebellion-puts-pressure-on-new-prime-minister-liz-truss-amidst-reports-of-empty-milk-shelves
