WA vegan activist fined for trespassing, carrying pepper spray
Two animal activists who broke into a Pinjarra piggery and live-streamed the animals inside last month.
James Darren Warden, 25, appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with two counts of trespassing and possession of a controlled weapon.
He pleaded guilty to all charges, which stemmed from two separate incidents.
Police prosecutor Nev Palmer said the first incident took place at a feed lot on a Mundijong farm on February 6.
A staff member told Warden to leave, but the activist told him he was looking for breaches of animal cruelty.
In the second incident, Warden and co-accused Katrina Sobianina, 24, entered GD Pork Pty Ltd in Pinjarra through a large shed about 12.30am on February 25.
The pair donned disposable gloves, overalls and covered shoes. In that instance, Warden was found with pepper spray in his possession.
Sergeant Palmer said the act was live-streamed to the Direct Action Everywhere Facebook page and the pair answered questions from people across the world for about 90 minutes.
Several members of the activist group attended court, with about 20 supporters of the charged duo present.
Sergeant Palmer said community members with the same name as Warden had endured death threats following the offending.
Sobianina, 24, also pleaded guilty to trespassing at the Pinjarra piggery.
Warden's lawyer Chad Silver told the court his client, who is currently unemployed, was an engineer who had also worked as a chef.
Mr Silver said Warden had also received death threats in the wake of the offending.
Sobianina's lawyer Clare Hay told the court her client had only been involved in activism for the past six months.
"She made the mistake of her passions to overcome her sense," she said. "The passion for which she believed in, overtook the impact of what this would have on her future."
Ms Hay said Sobianina worked part time at Burswood Casino and had a diploma in education.
She said a criminal record would affect Sobianina's ability to work with children in the future.
Sobianina was fined $3000 with $107.50 court costs and was granted a spent conviction.
Warden was fined $6500 for the trespassing, $500 for possessing pepper spray and must pay $355 in costs.
Animal activist group The Direct Action Movement helped raise more than $5000 to go towards Warden's legal fees, with a photo used by the group claiming Warden was in jail.
However, he was out on bail at the time the fundraiser gathered steam.