Court cuts protestor's compensation costs on appeal

The protestor who smashed windows at the constituency office of Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams has successfully appealed against the costs he was ordered to pay.

Wayne Robert Powell smashed 16 panes of glass at the Welshpool High Street on July 7, informing staff members inside of his intentions before proceeding to use a hammer and chisel to break the glass.

The 53-year-old then phoned the police himself to inform them he had committed a crime. When police officers arrived on the scene he had gagged himself with black tape and held up a sign that read ‘This is what happens when you ban peaceful protest’, admitting he’d carried out the attack before turning himself in.

Powell said the protest was borne out of the Conservative UK Government’s plans to push through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – which he claims will make the right to protest “impossible”.

Powell escaped immediate custody after pleading guilty to criminal damage – he was instead sentenced to two months imprisonment, which was suspended for a year, last month at Welshpool Magistrates Court. Powell, of Bryn-y-Gog, Machynlleth, was also ordered to pay compensation of £1,500 in respect of the broken windows. He also has to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 costs.

But an appeal hearing at Mold Crown Court saw the compensation reduced to £500.