Trio in court accused of causing £2.4m damage to firm linked to Israeli military

Three people have been remanded in custody accused of causing an estimated £2.4 million worth of damage to a company said to be linked to the Israeli military.

Steven Davies, 57, Ian Roberts, 51, and Dolores Gnapi, 34, allegedly smashed computer screens, servers and other electronic equipment after breaking into a Keysight Technologies premises in Fleet, Hampshire, in the early hours of Sunday, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.

The company produces parts used in Elbit Systems’ drones, which defence barrister Katie McFadden told the court is the largest weapons supplier to Israel.

The parts are “then used in the ongoing genocide in Gaza”, Ms McFadden, defending all three, said.

Walls, floors and desks were stained with red paint sprayed from a fire extinguisher and the defendants shouted “for Palestine”, prosecutor Kate Bolton told the court with a packed public gallery.

All three are charged with aggravated burglary with a hammer and criminal damage to property.

Roberts, of McDougall Road, Wednesbury, West Midlands, is also charged with assaulting an emergency worker.

Ms McFadden said the charges were “grossly overblown”.

She told the court: “I am concerned that both in the charge selection and in the way it’s been described, this matter has been massively overblown for the purpose of an application for remand.”

District Judge Sam Goozee remanded in custody Davies, of Slade Road, Birmingham; Gnapi, of Tariff Crescent, Lewisham, south-east London; and Roberts.

They will next appear at the Old Bailey on May 1.