Rosalind Burgin and Bethany Currie’s clients not guilty of public nuisance for Doncaster Races protest
16 April 2026
The defendants were charged following an Animal Rising protest at Doncaster Racecourse (pictured) in May 2023. Credit: Animal Rising.
Garden Court North’s Rosalind Burgin and Bethany Currie’s clients have been found not guilty of causing a public nuisance following an Animal Rising protest at Doncaster Racecourse in May 2023.
During the hearing earlier today (16 April 2026), the Crown stated that the case had “been reviewed following receipt of expert evidence from the defence and, taking that and all circumstances into account, the Crown consider there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and will offer no evidence.”
The defendants attended the racecourse and took part in a protest against horse racing. The start time of a race was delayed and the defendants were charged with the statutory offence of public nuisance (s.78 Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022).
The defence case was that the elements of the statutory offence were not made out, that the defendants had a reasonable excuse for their actions, and that a conviction would amount to a disproportionate interference with the Defendants’ Article 10 and 11 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Applying the Human Rights Act 1998 to public nuisance offences
The case, which was reserved to the Recorder of Sheffield, saw nine pre-trial hearings take place before the prosecution offered no evidence. The defence provided written submissions on matters of law and representations on discontinuing the prosecution.
The case came to the Crown Court less than a year after the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came into force, making it one of the earliest cases grappling with the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 to the statutory offence of public nuisance.
Discussion in Court addressed the acquittals of animal rights protesters who attended the 2023 Grand National, who had also been charged with the statutory offence of public nuisance. Bethany Currie was among counsel who were successful in arguing that it was for the jury to determine whether a conviction would amount to a disproportionate interference with the Defendants’ Article 10 and 11 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in September 2025.
Similarly, in March 2025, Rosalind Burgin secured an acquittal of a protester charged with the statutory offence of public nuisance following a Just Stop Oil protest at the Open Golf Championship. The defence case included that that the elements of the statutory offence were not made out. The judge directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict at the close of the prosecution case.
Rosalind and Bethany were instructed by Nicola Hall of Robert Lizar Solicitors.
Additional media
BBC South Yorkshire – Doncaster Racecourse protest: Animal rights activists to stand trial
The Mirror – Animal rights protesters delay racing at Doncaster after getting onto track
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
