Eco Warrior Maddie Budd Jailed for Vile Captain Tom Moore Memorial Attack
Maddie Budd, 21, a former medical student turned environmental activist, was arrested and remanded in custody after pouring human faeces over the memorial of national hero Captain Sir Tom Moore. The shocking protest in Hatton, Derbyshire, condemned the use of private jets and sparked outrage across the country.
Disgusting Act Caught on Camera
Video footage showed Budd drenched the statue honouring Captain Sir Tom, the World War II veteran who raised £33 million for the NHS during the pandemic, with urine and faeces. Budd was wearing a T-shirt reading “End UK Private Jets” during the stunt on September 30.
Prosecutor Jordan Pratt told Westminster Magistrates Court: “She approached the statue and poured a bucket of human faeces on it. This is a heinous crime. Tom Moore was a figurehead who rallied millions to the NHS during lockdown.
Following a guilty plea to criminal damage, District Judge Louisa Cieciora rejected Budd’s bail application citing a “substantial” risk she would reoffend, and indicated a possible prison sentence starting at 18 months. Budd is set to be sentenced on October 25.
Father Speaks Out: ‘Ashamed and Sick with Shock’
Jim Budd, Maddie’s father, slammed her actions as “horrible” and said he felt “ashamed” and “sick with shock” after watching the footage. He revealed his daughter dropped out of medical school to become a full-time eco-warrior and called her behaviour “a nightmare for any parent.”
“The shock of this is hurting and upsetting people. I’m embarrassed by her and what she’s done,” Mr Budd told MailOnline. “She did something horrible without considering the consequences.”
He described Maddie’s actions as “rogue” and misguided, emphasising their family’s support for legitimate climate activism but condemning this “desecration” of a respected national symbol.
Activist’s Justification Meets Furious Backlash
Budd justified the vile protest in a released video, claiming every private jet flight “pours a bucket of sh*t and blood on everything Captain Tom stood for.” The stunt was part of the ‘End UK Private Jets’ campaign, and police say Budd was arrested in London during another protest with the group.
The memorial’s creators and the public expressed disgust at the disrespect shown to Captain Tom, who was knighted by the Queen and honoured with RAF and Army flypasts before his death in February 2021.
Derbyshire Police continue to investigate after receiving the video from the memorial’s makers. Budd remains behind bars as the climate activist crisis continues to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
