Judge delays Pendeford sentencing after High Court ruling
A senior judge has put off the plea hearing of four alleged pro-Palestine protesters
Last updated 13th Feb 2026
A senior judge has put off the plea hearing of four alleged pro-Palestine protesters, in light of a High Court ruling.
Iain Evans, 32, Hisham Alkhamesi, 23, Bea Sherman, 23, and Hana Yun Stevens, 23, are accused of causing more than £1 million of damage after smashing into a defence manufacturer's factory.
They appeared by videolink from custody for a plea hearing at the Old Bailey today (Friday).
The hearing came shortly after the High Court ruled a decision to ban Palestine Action as a terror group was unlawful, "disproportionate" and should be overturned.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb agreed to put off the plea hearing at the request of the defendants' counsel to allow them time to consider the ruling.
She said: "I do not want to prevent the defence raising an argument that is not right and proper to raise. I am prepared to adjourn the hearing until the next terrorism list on February 27."
The defendants are charged with a single count of criminal damage on August 26 2025.
It is alleged they "destroyed or damaged property to a value estimated to be more than £1 million belonging to Moog Inc" in Pendeford, Staffordshire, without lawful excuse.
They face a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court from June 8 before a High Court judge.
Evans, from Shipley, West Yorkshire, Alkhamesi, of Hinckley, Lincolnshire, Sherman, of Hassocks, West Sussex, and Stevens, of south-west London, were remanded into custody.
It is alleged that members of a group, named online as Palestinian Martyrs, broke in and got on to the roof of the Moog Aircraft Group factory in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, at 3.50am last August 26.
Significant damage was caused to a number of skylights and solar panels, Staffordshire Police said.
A video released on social media showed the group ram through gates in a four-wheel drive vehicle before letting off a red flare and climbing a ladder.
One of the activists said: "We are Palestinian Martyrs for Justice and each of us here today on the roof of Moog are wearing a T-shirt of one of the martyrs that have been murdered by Israel in the genocide."
The manufacturer was allegedly targeted because it supplies equipment fitted on F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli government to bomb Palestinians in Gaza, the group claimed.