The activist who tied himself to a goalpost at Goodison Park has been sentenced to six weeks in prison.
Louis McKechnie used a mental-enforced zip tie to attach himself by his neck during Everton’s clash with Newcastle United back in March, leading to a lengthy stoppage and his eventual removal and arrest.
Wearing an orange Just Stop Oil t-shirt, the protester was part of a civil resistance group which wanted the Government to act to end the use of fossil fuels.
On trial at trial at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court, the 21-year-old denied aggravated trespass but was found guilty on Friday and also given a £50 fine, or one day in detention, for going onto the playing area, made subject to a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £500 towards prosecution costs.
PC Colin White, who arrested McKechnie said: “At that time in the football season Everton were struggling so there was great frustration in the crowd already.
“When Mr McKechnie went onto the pitch and attached himself to the goalpost there was a lot of frustration, there was a lot of shouting, a lot of abuse and the occasional missile was being thrown onto the pitch in the direction of the goal.”
While given a six-week prison term, the court heard that McKechnie, who gave his address as HMP Altcourse, had already served that sentence, having been in custody since July.
However despite the punishment, the activist said that it was ‘worth it’ if his protest saves lives.
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McKechnie said: “We came up with the idea of how do we get the most eyes on that name, Just Stop Oil, and of course, in this day and age, football is the biggest cultural phenomenon there is.”
He added: “Hopefully, public awareness will bring public action which might actually, if we can get the Government to listen to us, might actually save a lot of lives.
“If it’s a chance of saving a billion lives, it’s worth it no matter the odds.”