Five pro-Palestine activists who occupied the roof of a factory in Glasgow which supplies the defence industry have been jailed.

Stuart Bretherton, Eva Simmons and Calum Lacy, along with Erica Hygate and Sumaya Javaid, all scaled a fence at the Thales plant in Govan and staged a demonstration on its roof.

Hygate and Javaid also broke into the factory, damaged equipment meant for submarines and threw smoke bombs into an area used by hundreds of workers, causing it to be evacuated.

More than £1m damage was estimated to have been caused at the plant.  All were handed sentences ranging between 12-14 months after pleading guilty to breach of the peace. Hygate and Javaid also admitted damaging property.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that the group had gathered outside the plant early on the morning of 2 June, 2022, dressed in orange overalls and balaclavas.

The group were sentenced to 12-14 months The group were sentenced to 12-14 months (Image: Palestine Action)

They used ladders to get over the fence and climbed onto the rooftop, unfurling a banner in support of their cause.

Hygate and Javaid then climbed through a door on the roof and got inside the factory, setting off an internal fire alarm which sparked an evacuation of the premises and confusion and panic among staff.

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While that evacuation was taking place the pair set off pyrotechnics including smoke bombs.  Some were thrown into the area from where the staff were evacuating, causing smoke to pool dangerously close to staff members.

Bretherton, Simmons and Lacy remained on the roof, which was surrounded by a number of police officers, until finally coming down at 7:45pm, when they were arrested.

Hygate and Javaid remained above through the night, and glued their hands to the roofftop. They were finally removed the following morning by police. Javaid, who continued to be obstructive, was removed in leg restraints.

Sheriff John N. McCormick sentenced Bretherton, Simmons and Lacy to 12 months' imprisonment after they each pled guilty to a breach of the peace.

Erica Hygate was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment after she pled guilty to a breach of the peace and damaging property.

Sumaya Javaid was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment after she pled guilty to a breach of the peace, damaging property and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The group unveiled a bannerThe group unveiled a banner (Image: Palestine Action)

Sheriff McCormick said it had been a “difficult” case to sentence, with the group described as “young people motivated to protest” who had no prior convictions.

He said: “You are each young, intelligent and passionate and have much to contribute to society. This court expresses no view on the legitimacy of your protest.

“Everyone has the right to lawful protest. However, this episode was planned and implemented to go well beyond lawful protest.

“In the reports you express varying levels of regret at the extent and consequences of your actions on 1st and 2nd June 2022.  I give weight to that.”

However, he added: “the gravity and consequences of the charges to which you have pleaded guilty are such that there is no appropriate alternative to a custodial sentence.   

“The court cannot ignore the hazard you posed to yourselves and to others, the alarm to staff, the cost to the company and to the public purse and that it has to send a signal that such unlawful and reckless actions will attract custodial sentences where appropriate.”