Friday 1 July 2022 11:57 AM The REPEAT offenders who superglued themselves to Van Gogh painting trends now
Eco-zealots who glued themselves to the frame of Vincent Van Gogh's Peach Trees In Blossom painting yesterday are repeat offenders who have taken part in a series of other protests.
John Lennon lookalike Louis McKechnie is best known for strapping himself to a goalpost during a football match between Everton and Newcastle back in March.
The 21-year-old stormed the pitch half way through the Premier League clash and zip-tied himself to the woodwork wearing a bright orange t-shirt saying: 'Just stop oil.'
McKechnie halted play for seven minutes before the stadium's staff prised him free with a huge pair of bolt cutters and hauled him off the pitch where he was arrested.
He has also been accused of smearing red paint on the Queen Victoria memorial as part of an Animal Rebellion protest and blocked access to oil terminals in Essex.
He was joined at Just Stop Oil's latest stunt at the Courtauld Gallery in London on Thursday by psychology student Emily Brocklebank.
She too has been spotted at previous eco demonstrations, including at the group's sit-down action at Kingsbury Oil Terminal, as well as at an Insulate Britain protest on the M25 in Hertfordshire last year.
The Met Police confirmed two people were arrested for criminal damage after yesterday's incident at Somerset House and that the pair remained in custody.
Just Stop Oil protestors have risked ten years in prison after they glued themselves to the frame of Vincent Van Gogh's Peach Trees In Blossom painting in the group's latest stunt
Louis McKechnie, who was named as one of the demonstrators, is an eco-zealot who strapped himself to a goalpost during the Everton versus Newcastle football match back in March
Fellow protestor Emily Brocklebank (middle) has also been spotted at previous eco demonstrations, including at the group's sit-down action at Kingsbury Oil Terminal
Yesterday's stunt came just 24 hours after protestors glued themselves to Horatio McCulloch's My Heart Is In The Highlands 19th-century painting in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and spray-painted their logo on the walls and floor of the building.
Five people were arrested and are expected to appear at the Glasgow Sheriff's Court.
The latest action comes amid warnings that the Provence region in southeastern France, depicted in Van Gogh's peach tree painting, may soon be experiencing a drought after rainfall levels were 45 per cent below historic averages.
Just Stop Oil, which has previously carried out protests at oil terminals and the UK Government offices in Edinburgh, said it is calling for art institutions to join the group in 'civil resistance' against climate change.
McKechnie, from Weymouth in Dorset, said: 'As a kid I used to love this painting, my dad took me to see it when we visited London. I still love this painting, but I love my friends and family more, I love nature more. I value the future survival of my generation more highly than my public reputation.
'The scientists are saying we need to end fossil fuel licensing and the government is
