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UK Just Stop Oil duo jailed for throwing soup at Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'.

2 climate activists from Simply Stop Oil who tossed soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers. painting in London's National Gallery were imprisoned on Friday for. criminal damage.

Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, tossed tins of. tomato soup on the art work in October 2022, before gluing. themselves to the wall listed below the painting.

The soup triggered approximately 10,000 pounds ($ 13,385) worth of. damage to the frame, prosecutors stated, though the painting--. which was behind a protective screen-- was unscathed and went. back on screen later the exact same day.

The set pleaded not guilty however were founded guilty after a trial. at London's Southwark Crown Court, where Plummer was sentenced. to two years in prison for the criminal damage charge. Holland. was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Judge Christopher Hehir stated Plummer and Holland came. within the width of a pane of glass of irreparably destructive or. even ruining the painting, which he said was most likely. valuable in an actual sense.

Plummer stated she took part in the protests knowing she could. be arrested and jailed, stating I picked to in harmony interrupt a. business-as-usual system that is unfair, unethical and. murderous.

Plummer likewise said she was being made a political prisoner,. which Hehir called ludicrous, self-indulgent and offending.

It stinks to the lots of people in other parts of the. world who are suffering persecution, jail time and in some cases. death for their beliefs, he stated.

Plummer was likewise sentenced to an extra 3 months in. jail on Friday, having been independently convicted of the. fairly brand-new offence of interfering with the use of key. nationwide facilities.

Friday's sentencing comes in the middle of a wider crackdown on protest. movements in Britain and across Europe.

Activists from Simply Stop Oil have staged a variety of. distinctive protests recently, consisting of interrupting. sporting occasions, theatre performances and roadway traffic.

5 members of the group, consisting of co-founder Roger. Hallam, were jailed in July for a minimum of 4 years for a. conspiracy to block London's M25 motorway, marking the longest. sentences ever imposed for a non-violent demonstration in Britain.

(source: Reuters)