Anti-vegan protesters fined for 'disgusting' act at crowded market in front of children
WARNING - DISTURBING CONTENT: Two men have been fined after they ate squirrel carcasses outside a vegan food stall during a staged protest.
Deonisy Khlebnikov, 22, and Gatis Lagzdins, 29, were caught on camera biting into the dead animals at London’s Soho Vegan Food Market on March 30, the BBC reported.
The clip, shared to YouTube on an account synonymous with anti-vegan protests, shows the men parading the squirrels outside the market for more than half an hour with several people filming them.
The men appeared in court last month accused of disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
The pair denied the allegations saying they were trying to educate people on the dangers of not eating meat, but were found guilty on Monday and convicted of public order offences.
Crown prosecutor Natalie Clines labelled their behaviour especially “disgusting and unnecessary” due to its close proximity to the store.
"Their pre-meditated actions caused significant distress to members of the public, including young children,” she said.
Khlebnikov was fined $200 while Lagzdins was handed a fine of $400.
Soho Vegan Markets said they were “glad” at the result but were disappointed over the effect the stunt had on their customers and passers-by.
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