A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of damaging a McDonald’s restaurant by throwing fake blood during a vegan protest.

Dylan Roffey, 24, of Terminus Road, Brighton, denied causing £3,000 damage to the fast food restaurant and resisting arrest.

Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Meat the victim”, Roffey spoke only to confirm her name and address before entering not guilty pleas.

McDonald’s in London Road, Brighton, was the centre of a protest by a vegan group on May 17.

Activists in pig masks filmed themselves smearing fake blood around the restaurant and posted it online.

Brighton Magistrates Court heard Roffey was one of a number of protesters.

Roffey was bailed on the condition she does not enter any McDonald’s restaurant.

A trial date was set for next month.

Outside the court, protesters shouted vegan slogans.

The group of about eight activists wore pig masks and chanted “one struggle, one fight” as people entered the court.

A spokeswoman for vegan protest group Direct Action Everywhere (DXE) said Roffey “intends to fight the case against McDonald’s who are the real guilty party”.

The spokesman said: “McDonald’s trades in cruelty.

“Their profit comes at the price of so much suffering and death.

“They are in the murder trade and should be the ones on trial.

“McDonald’s murders countless animals every year.

“They are the real criminals.

“The police are happy to be their personal security so it’s up to us to hold them to account.”

The court heard Roffey was one of a number of protesters in the McDonald’s last month.

About 20 activists, many in pig and chicken masks, invaded the restaurant.

Some spread fake blood over the floor and windows in front of shocked customers while others carried signs with slogans including “ethics over profits”.

Police warned they would not tolerate “intimidating behaviour” from activists.

The DxE spokeswoman said: “We are all animals, we must fight for each other.

“There’s nothing more vastly murderous and oppressive than animal agriculture. We must rid ourselves of our speciesist mindset.

“These are beings, not a ‘happy meal’, not commodities. Respect existence or expect resistance.”