Member

The Court of Appeal has already held that the only relevant circumstances are those that relate to the circumstances of the damage or destruction, not to broader political matters. For example, the political beliefs of those protesting are not to be taken into consideration when the offence has occurred. The relevant belief must be held by the defendant at the time of the event, and it must be that the owner consented or would have done so at the time, rather than as a result of the damage.