Overview
- Emma Smart publicly defended removing a crustacean from a Weymouth seafood restaurant after pleading guilty to criminal damage at Bournemouth Crown Court.
- CCTV showed Smart enter The Catch, reach into a display tank that held two pet crayfish, and throw one into the harbour as a staff member tried to stop her.
- She called the act a “crustacean jailbreak” and said she was in a mental health crisis, while alleging police stripped and searched her, raided her home, and held her for 12 hours.
- A judge said the act was deeply misguided and the animal’s survival was unknown, while owner Sean Cooper said the release likely killed it and argued the restaurant is a leader in sustainable sourcing.
- Smart received a restraining order barring her from The Catch and an eight‑month conditional discharge, intensifying debate over direct‑action protests that risk harming animals and local businesses.