A MALVERN woman is one of eight people to deny aggravated trespass following a demonstration outside a McDonald’s distribution centre.

The charges relate to the protest outside the Basingstoke facility which was one of a number of events held against the fast food giant across the UK on the weekend of May 22.

The eight defendants have been charged with aggravated trespass as well as “watching or besetting a house or place to compel the abstention or doing of a lawful act, an offence under Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992”.

The defendants include Jennifer D’Netto, 51, of Rothwell Road, Malvern Wells, Worcestershire; Kiera Ilett-Jones, 24, of Albemarle Road, Beckenham, Kent, and Elizabeth Flynn, 32, Rose Patterson, 31, and Adam Haigh, 21, all of no fixed address.

The other three defendants are Sidney Davies, 21, of Chessel Street, Bristol, and Bethany Croakin, 25, and Jasmine Maslen, 18, both of no fixed address.

During hearings at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and Thursday the defendants all pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

They were all released on bail with the condition not to enter the Houndmills Industrial Estate in Basingstoke until the next court hearing on July 6 ahead of a trial listed on February 22 2022 at Aldershot Magistrates’ Court.

Animal Rebellion used vehicles and bamboo structures to prevent lorries from leaving depots in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Heywood in Greater Manchester during the demonstrations.

The group is demanding McDonald’s commit to becoming fully plant-based by 2025.

At the time of the incident, Hampshire Police chief inspector Matt Reeves said: “Everyone has the right to free speech and protest, however, officers will take necessary action against the few who deliberately choose to act outside the law.”