Alexander McColl and Pragnya Iovine secure one acquittal and two conditional discharges in ‘lock on’ trial

17 September 2026

Garden Court North’s Alexander McColl (left) and Pragnya Iovine (right) represented the defendants at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. Credit: Garden Court North.

Garden Court North’s Alexander McColl and pupil Pragnya Iovine have secured an acquittal and conditional discharges for their clients following a week-long trial at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

The defendants took part in a direct-action protest at the Peninsula Building in Manchester in July 2024. They were charged under the Public Order Act 2023 with causing serious disruption by locking on.

The trial involved cross-examination of police officers, security guards and people who had been working at the building that day. Extensive and novel submissions on the interpretation of this relatively new offence were required, as well as on the applicability of the defendants’ right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Following trial and submissions, the judge was not satisfied that a defendant who had attached themselves to a canopy above the entrance of the building had caused serious disruption and therefore acquitted them. The other defendants, who had blocked the entrance to the building’s car park, were convicted of locking on but received conditional discharges.

Pragnya and Alexander were instructed by Nicola Hall of Robert Lizar Solicitors