Anti-lockdown protester set to stand trial following Sheffield demonstration

The woman was arrested at a demonstration in Sheffield city centre on Saturday, November 14, and charged with participating in a gathering, which is an offence under the national lockdown legislation.

She appeared at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where she denied the offence and was remanded on unconditional bail to apear for trial on March 2, 2021.

Normal Christmas still possible in Sheffield but public health expert admits it’s a ‘long shot’

The court said she had given her name as Christine Spalding but did not give her date of birth and gave her address as Town Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Another woman arrested during a protest the previous Saturday, November 7, was charged with the same offence and South Yorkshire Police said she had appeared before magistrates on Monday, November 9.

But the force was unable to give her name as she had refused to provide any details to officers, and the court said it was unable to locate the outcome of the hearing that day without a name.

30,000 volunteers will be trained to administer a Covid vaccine across England

Gatherings of more than two people from different households are banned under the lockdown rules, which are in place until December 2, with no exceptions for protests.

People caught flouting the rules can be fined £200 for a first offence, reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, rising to a maximum of £6,400 for subsequent offences.

The first protest, dubbed the ‘Sheffield Freedom Gathering’, took place at Barker’s Pool, opposite Sheffield City Hall, and attracted around 30 people.

Over 20 South Yorkshire patients died from Covid-19 in the region's hospitals

The following weekend’s demonstration was held at the same location, with videos suggesting there was another relatively small turnout.