A busy morning in Heathrow‘s departure lounge was disrupted today by global warming‘s biggest nemesis Phoebe Plummer.
Armed with a can of spray paint and an ego that would cripple Ronaldo, Plummer and a fellow activist painted the building orange before being promptly arrested and detained.
As Plummer, 22, was on bail ahead of sentencing for her Van Gogh stunt, it is likely she will be now detained indefinitely.
Last week, the non-binary activist, who goes by the name of Ziggy Stardyke on her X account, was told explicitly by Judge Christopher Kehir that she should be prepared in ‘practical and emotional terms to go to prison.’
This isn’t an empty threat. Last week the same judge sent five members of JSO including 22-year-old student Cressida Gethin and founder Roger Hallam to prison for 4-5 years. He has form.
Phoebe Plummer been described as Just Stop Oil’s poster girl for her outrageous stunts
Despite being on bail ahead of sentencing Plummer (left) alongside Jane Touil (right) targeted Heathrow Airport this morning
Shortly after the stunt she was arrested by police at the airport
In the intervening years, Plummer has taken part in numerous other demonstrations, committing flagrant offences and being constantly re-bailed so she can re-offend
Plummer, who once likened herself to Martin Luther King, has lived a life of serene luxury
Plummer attended the £50,000 a year St Mary’s Ascott boarding school in Berkshire
She grew up in her parents £2.85million Chelsea townhouse but is now thought to reside at a property in Lambeth
His remarks came after he found Plummer guilty of criminal damage for throwing a can of soup over Vincent Van Goth’s Sunflowers in 2022.
In the intervening years, Plummer has taken part in numerous other demonstrations, committing flagrant offences and being constantly re-bailed so she can re-offend.
So who is Phoebe Plummer and what if anything can be done to stop her?
Plummer, who once likened herself to Martin Luther King, has lived a life of serene luxury being privately educated at St Mary’s Ascot boarding school in Berkshire before studying social anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
She grew up in her parents £2.85million Chelsea townhouse but according to court hearings now resides at a house in Lambeth.
It is not known if the professional protester has managed to find gainful employment to support herself in her new digs, but according to an interview in the Times it seems unlikely.
She boasted: ‘I don’t have to work three jobs to feed my kids or pay heating bills which means I can dedicate time towards fighting.’
So then, ahead of her expected impending prison sentence (which she’s apparently looking forward to) MailOnline has collated a full list of Plummer’s most eye-catching and irritating moments.
The list can be considered exhaustive as its extremely unlikely Plummer would ever involve herself in any action that didn’t place her directly in front of the camera.
In October 2022, Plummer exploded onto the stage when she and fellow activist Anna Holland, 22, flung two tins of Heinz soup at Sunflowers
The painting is considered to be a masterpiece and is one of the most recognisable artworks in the world
The stunt prompted outrage across the world as it wasn’t originally known that the painting itself was protected by a glass screen
October 2022 – Vincent Van Gogh and the soup
In October 2022, Plummer exploded onto the stage when she and fellow activist Anna Holland, 22, flung two tins of Heinz soup at the Dutch artist’s 1888 masterpiece Sunflowers while it was on display at the National Gallery.
The stunt prompted outrage across the world as it wasn’t originally known that the painting itself was protected by a glass screen.
This is something Plummer claimed she knew in advance, however she was less concerned about the 17th century Italian frame which she damaged.
After pouring the contents of the soup all over the painting, the two activists proceeded to glue their hands to the floor before bellowing something about no new oil and gas.
They denied but were convicted of damaging property by a jury after a four day trial at Southwark Crown Court last week and have been told to expect jail time.
Not that Plummer particularly cares, this act cemented her as the poster girl of Just Stop Oil and emboldened her to move to the forefront of the group’s irritating activities.
Police watch as traffic is held back as an activist from Just Stop Oil occupies a gantry over the M25 near Godstone in Surrey in November 2022
Plummer, who was pictured being dragged away from the scene by police officers, had allegedly bragged of her part in the disruption
November 2022 – Attacking the M25
Whilst on bail for her Van Gogh stunt, Plummer once again made the headlines after joining a group of JSO activists seeking to paralyse the M25.
In November of that year, activists caused chaos on the motorway by climbing gantries and targeting petrol stations causing four days of travel hell for motorists.
Plummer, who was pictured being dragged away from the scene by police officers, had allegedly bragged of her part in the disruption to an undercover reporter at the Sun.
She reportedly said: ‘There’s no risk of custodial time. The harshest punishment is a small fine. We need to grab this opportunity while we have it and it’s such a minor offence.
‘Slow marching because it’s more entry-level for people. My first action was smashing up petrol stations.
‘It was f**g brilliant what we did on the M25, shutting it down for four days. I was part of that. I went to prison for that last year.’
Met Police officers – who politely told Pheobe Plummer she would have to leave her coffee – were filmed by activists as they arrested her
Friends cried that she had hash browns on their way – but she had to leave before they arrived
June 2023 – Slow marching back into prison (via a posh cafe)
In June last year, Plummer found herself at the mercy of the old Bill who swooped on her whilst she was enjoying breakfast in an upmarket cafe in Islington.
Far from her being persecuted, Plummer’s arrest was actually because she had just broken her bail conditions by participating in a slow march that morning.
Officers were filmed politely telling the vegan activist she would have to leave her coffee and could not wait for her hash browns as they dragged her away.
Plummer described her arrest as a ‘draconian breach of power.’ Her friend paid for her bill.
Labour’s Emily Thornberry was targeted by Plummer at her home address
Ever the wisecracker, Plummer states confidently: ‘I’ve got bail not to go to any MP’s house.’
The video cuts to footage of a police van arriving, and Plummer climbs in before turning and waving, saying: ‘See you guys later!’ and laughs
March 2024 – Plummer delivers a letter to Emily Thornberry
In March this year, Plummer essentially handed herself into police after taking part in an ill advised stunt to hand deliver a series of demands to Emily Thornberry at her personal address.
In a video shared on social media, Plummer is seen posting the letter with a friend. It then cuts to show several police officers asking if she has ID.
Ever the wisecracker, Plummer states confidently: ‘I’ve got bail not to go to any MP’s house.’
An officer then returns, and said: ‘We’ve just spoken to our inspector… you will be under arrest for breaching police bail conditions.’
Speaking to the camera, she then said: ‘So apparently this is the world we live in now. Getting arrested, literally for just posting a letter through to somebody’s house…somebody’s front door.
‘That’s so far from a crime, isn’t it?’
To which the police officer replied: ‘You’ve got these bail conditions for a reason, haven’t you.’
She responded: ‘To prevent that. This is what it was trying to prevent. Just delivering a letter.’
The video cuts to footage of a police van arriving, and Plummer climbs in before turning and waving, saying: ‘See you guys later!’ and laughs.
This morning, Plummer targeted Heathrow airport, spraying paint on a departure board
Police officers take away Just Stop Oil activist Phoebe Plummer today at Heathrow Airport
July 2024 – Plummer targets Heathrow whilst awaiting sentencing
Fresh from being convicted, Plummer was back in the headlines today after she and another activist targeted Heathrow Airport with orange paint, to apparently prove a point about climate change.
As usual, their protest fell flat and failed to cause any disruption to holidaymakers passing through the airport at the start of the summer holidays.
The 22-year-old will be sentenced on September 27 over the incident at the National Gallery in London in October 2022 and has been warned by a judge to expect jail.
The second activist, Jane Touil, 58, shouted while sat down today: ‘Refuse to die for fossil fuels. We have seen the hottest two days in recorded history. Last year was the hottest year in recorded history.’
The Metropolitan Police said two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and officers remained at the scene to ‘deal with any further offences’.
