Greyhound protesters overturn compensation order

Three protesters overturned their compensation orders at Northampton Crown Court

Three animal rights protesters who tried to disrupt last year's English Greyhound Derby have had court orders to pay £22,500 in compensation rescinded.

Joseph Moss, 21, Edward Allnutt, 33, and Sasha Joilliffe, 46, were previously found guilty of aggravated trespass at Towcester Racecourse, Northamptonshire in July 2023, although no races were disrupted.

Following an appeal, the £7,500 compensation orders they were each given at Northampton Magistrates' Court in April have been overturned at the town's crown court.

However, the rest of their sentences still stand, including fines of £7,500 each and suspended prison sentences.

Moss, of Skaife Road, in Sale in Greater Manchester; Allnutt, who lives on a boat; and Joilliffe, of St Anthony's Road in Bournemouth, were originally given nine-week prison sentences, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours of community service.

Protestors were present outside Towcester Racecourse during the English Greyhound Derby final

The three Animal Rising activists said the protests were part of a "summer of action" to "shine a spotlight" on the "broken relationship" with animals.

Allnutt said: “We are glad that the judge agreed that the previous sentencing was excessive.

"I look forward to when animal racing will be consigned to the dustbin of history."

One further defendant from the original trial was still awaiting the result of their appeal.