Solihull animal rights activist given suspended sentence
A SOLIHULL animal rights activist was given a suspended prison sentence and five others jailed for intimidating companies linked to an animal testing lab.
Alfie Fitzpatrick, aged 21, of Knowle Road, received a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community work.
A court heard that Fitzpatrick was only 17 when he was part of the conspiracy. He was educated at the international school in Geneva and is from a wealthy family.
The judge said he was the least involved and received the suspended sentence.
He and the others waged a wide-ranging international conspiracy of intimidation against a host of supply companies to force the closure of Cambridge-based HLS, Winchester Crown Court heard.
Action carried out included realistic hoax bombs posted to the homes of staff and offices, criminal damage, threats of violence and abusive telephone calls.
Some company directors had leaflets distributed near their home falsely telling neighbours they were convicted paedophiles and others had used tampons sent through the post saying the blood was HIV positive.
Others had words like puppy killer, murderer and scum daubed on their houses, cars or on the roads nearby.
The abuse would only stop when the company issued a capitulation statement and cut links with the lab.
The total cost of damage and increased security costs was £12.6 million, to around 40 companies targeted, the court heard.
