Take Back Power activists charged after pouring manure on floor of the Ritz and Tower of London custard stunt

Ed Griffiths
Sun, 19 Apr 2026 14:34:33 +0000

Nine members of the climate campaign group Take Back Power are set to face criminal charges following two high-profile protest incidents in December.

Four protesters allegedly poured manure on the floor before the Christmas tree at the Ritz hotel on December 3 last year.

Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, Tom Barber, 66, Toby Ellwood, 21, and Tjalle Rumley, 26, were charged with criminal damage to the luxury Mayfair establishment.

Their court appearances will mark the first of several scheduled hearings connected to the December protest.

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Ms Redwood-Brown resides in Bristol on Balmoral Road, while Mr Barber lives on St Andrews Road in Nottingham.

They will both appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 20.

Mr Ellwood is from Newport Gardens in Leeds, and Mr Rumley resides in Hereford Road in Acton, west London.

They will appear at a later hearing at the same court on April 29.

The Metropolitan police charged a further four people following the incident at the Tower of London.

Crumble and custard were thrown at the crown jewels on December 6, police have said.

Metropolitan Police officers rushed to the scene after reports of the incident.

Fatima Ali, 19, Miriam Cranch, 22, Mack Preston, 22, and Matthew Cooper, 50, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 27.

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Ms Ali lives in Rhodeswell Road, Tower Hamlets, while Ms Cranch resides in Trelawn Avenue, Leeds.

Mr Preston is from Westferry Circus, Tower Hamlets and Mr Cooper lives in Oriel Gardens, Bath.

They will all appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on April 27.

David Kilroy, 66, of Hartley Park Gardens, Plymouth has been charged with theft following an alleged incident of organised shoplifting at Sainsbury’s in Lewisham on March 14.

He will appear at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on April 29.