Two animal activists have been fined thousands of dollars after they pleaded guilty to trespassing on a Pinjarra piggery before live streaming 90 minutes of footage of themselves inside the facility to supporters around the world.

Direct Action Everwhere’s James Warden and Katrina Sobianina both admitted trespassing on the former GD Pork facility in the early hours of February 25 when they appeared in the Mandurah Magistrate’s Court today.

Warden also admitted trespassing on a Mundijong farm in an unrelated incident on February 6, and possessing pepper spray, which police found under his bed when they raided his house after the Pinjarra offence.

Camera Icon Direct Action Everywhere live streamed a video of the raid on a Pinjarra piggery. Credit: Direct Action Everywhere - DxE /

Warden, 25, was fined $7000 while Sobianina was fined $3000 for her role.

Police prosecutor Sgt Neville Palmer told the court the pair broke into the Pinjarra piggery “under the cover of darkness” between 12.30am and 3am.

The activists, who claimed to be highlighting the cruel treatment of animals at the facility, put on disposable overalls and shoe covers before starting a 90-minute live stream, which beamed out to Direct Action Everywhere supporters across the globe.

When police searched his home the next day, the pepper spray was found, and Warden told officers he had it for “self-defence”, with his lawyer Chad Silver telling the court his client had received death threats.

Camera Icon The pair were fined thousands of dollars for trespass. Credit: Direct Action Everywhere - DxE /

Sgt Palmer said about two weeks earlier, Warden trespassed on a farm in Mundijong with an unidentified co-accused, where he ignored at least three “no entry” signs and before taking photos of sheep around a feedlot.

When questioned, he told employees he was looking for “animal cruelty” and initially refused to leave but did so when they threatened to call police.

The court was told Sobianina, 24, had joined Direct Action Everywhere six months ago and had been engaged in “lawful actions to protest against animal cruelty”. “Clearly, this wasn’t lawful, but it was something she felt passionately about,” her lawyer said.

Sobianina’s lawyer said she “made a mistake of letting her passion overcome her sense”.

Sgt Palmer said the Pinjarra piggery was a primary producer and the pair’s trespassing on the site posed a biosecurity risk, saying they took with them the disposable clothing they had worn.

He said the owners of the company had also received “various threats”. “This is a high-end trespass,” he said. “I do appreciate everyone has a right to protest in the right forum, but this is not the case here today.”

Magistrate Geoff Lawrence said the people were entitled to hold beliefs but were not entitled to “break the law”, describing their crime as “completely brazen”.

Mr Lawrence referred to last week’s Christchurch massacre in his sentencing, which was also live streamed on Facebook.

“What concerns me most, is that the 1 ½ hour live coverage was being beamed out around the world,” he said.

“It is beamed out, like another act of a much, much more serious type and that’s what they want.

“They want others to join in with things that are consistent with their beliefs but not consistent with the law.

“I can’t stress how far away it is from activities in New Zealand, but it was under the cover of darkness and it was completely reckless to the community and without any consideration to the owners who were running a lawful business.”

Both offenders were ordered to pay costs. Sobianina, who had recently finished a graduate diploma in teaching, was granted a spent conviction, with Mr Lawrence agreeing she had been given a “wake-up call” and was unlikely to re-offend.

About 30 supporters were holding signs outside the courthouse, including one that said “our justice system punishes those exposing cruelty and protects those causing it”. They clapped and shouted “hero” as Warden and his accomplice walked outside.