A man is on trial accused of planning to spray-paint the word "Palestine" across the lawn at Daylesford House, the Cotswold estate where Boris and Carrie Johnson held their wedding party, the day before the event took place. Tim Speers, 41, allegedly carried out the plot on behalf of Palestine Action, targeting the property because its owner, Conservative donor Lord Anthony Bamford, chairs JCB, which Speers claims supplies diggers used to demolish Palestinian homes. The case matters because it exposes a security breach at a high-profile private event guarded by police, and highlights the tactics of direct-action protest groups targeting figures linked to Israel-related industries.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Speers was caught by officers stationed at the 1,500-acre estate near Stow-on-the-Wold after he was spotted looking "out of place" while drinking a can of lager; his rucksack allegedly contained line marker and high-temperature spray paints, super glue, boiler suits and a note reading "Media Team". A voice note played to jurors reportedly had Speers describing being asked by Palestine Action to carry out an "action" that would likely count as trespass. A second man, Sean Middlebrough, was also arrested but will be tried separately after failing to attend. Speers, from Bude, Cornwall, denies possessing articles with intent to destroy or damage property, and the trial before Judge Usha Karu continues.