Just Stop Oil protesters who spray-painted Darwin’s grave deny criminal damage

Alyson Lee, 66, and Diane Bligh, 77, daubed the grave in Westminster Abbey with orange paint on January 13.

Two Just Stop Oil protesters who spray-painted Charles Darwin’s grave in Westminster Abbey have pleaded not guilty to criminal damage insisting their action was proportional to “the threat the world is facing”.

Alyson Lee, 66, of Park Grove, Derby, and Diane Bligh, 77, of Langham Place, Frome, Somerset, daubed the grave with orange paint as part of a protest on Monday January 13.

The pair are charged with causing criminal damage after writing “1.5 is dead” over the resting place of the scientist in central London.

Court backlogs mean it will be more than a year before they face trial.

They appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday morning for a plea and trial preparation hearing, where they both entered not guilty pleas.

Vincent Scully, prosecuting, told the court: “The allegation is that on January 13 both defendants entered Westminster Abbey and spray-painted an orange slogan about 1.5 degrees over the grave of Charles Darwin.

Diane Bligh, 77, arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London — Diane Bligh, 77, told the court she would be representing herself (Lucy North/PA)

“Bligh accepts painting ‘dead’. Lee accepts painting ‘1.5’.

“Both were wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts and then gave a press conference afterwards.

“The cost of the damage was about £10 to £15 to clean off and took a number of hours for specialists to do so.”

Judge Nicholas Rimmer said: “I encourage you to consider professional advocates for assistance – it may assist you.”

Bligh, wearing a green cardigan and blue scarf, said: “I have considered it and I’m choosing to be self-representing.”

Lee, wearing an orange cardigan, said: “That’s the same for me.”

Outlining their defences, the pair said they would be unable to receive a fair trial.

Bligh said: “I need time to think about it, but the way my mind is moving at the moment, I am not a criminal and the damage was proportional to the threat that the whole world is facing.”

Diane Bligh and Alyson Lee sat cross-legged next to Charles Darwin's grave in the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey — Diane Bligh and Alyson Lee spray-painted Charles Darwin’s grave in the north aisle of the nave of Westminster Abbey (Just Stop Oil/PA)

“The CPS have been informed of major crimes against humanity and they are refusing to pursue those, and that is the only reason why we have had to resort to what we’ve done.

“So I don’t believe we can have a fair trial in those circumstances.”

The pair are set to appear for trial on May 5 2026. The trial is expected to last three days.