header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: Pitch invaders who interrupt play should beware of the law

07 October 2022
Issue: 7997 / Categories: Legal News , Public , Sports law , Health & safety
printer mail-detail
96618
In this week’s NLJ, Neil Parpworth, of Leicester De Montfort Law School, looks at trespass on the field of play. It’s just not cricket! 

Parpworth looks at a case of aggravated trespass, where a YouTuber invaded the pitch dressed in whites during a test match at The Oval, ran up to the crease and released the ball. He also collided with a player. This caused confusion both to players and umpires.

While the YouTuber found this entertaining, the judge disagreed and found him guilty of aggravated trespass, under s 68(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Parpworth writes that case law on s 68 suggests that it is an offence tending to be committed in the context of protests and demonstrations. However, the case of The Oval YouTuber, like that of the Naked Rambler before him, where ‘the defendant is committed to a course of action which inevitably has an impact on others’ illustrates the scope of the offence.

Read Neil's article in full here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

Quinn Emanuel—James McSweeney

London promotion underscores firm’s investment in white collar and investigations

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Ward Hadaway—Louise Miller

Private client team strengthened by partner appointment

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

NLJ Career Profile: Kate Gaskell, Flex Legal

Kate Gaskell, CEO of Flex Legal, reflects on chasing her childhood dreams underscores the importance of welcoming those from all backgrounds into the profession

NEWS
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School highlights a turbulent end to 2025 in the civil courts, from the looming appeal in Mazur to judicial frustration with ever-expanding bundles, in his final NLJ 'The insider' column of the year
Antonia Glover of Quinn Emanuel outlines sweeping transparency reforms following the work of the Transparency and Open Justice Board in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll