A man had been fined £120 after he drove “at speed” through an Extinction Rebellion protest. 

Hanzhi Jiang, 28, of Belvedere Road in Lambeth, was found guilty of driving without reasonable consideration for user road users. 

Court documents state that on April 22 this year he failed to comply with road closures that were in place in Westminster due to an Extinction Rebellion event. 

The charge sheet stated: “There were two sets of road closures, the first closure was at the junction of John Islip Street and Bulinga Street. The second closure was at John Islip Street and Marsham Street. 

“There were several clearly and correctly displayed road traffic sign, namely two no entry signs and direction arrows with cones. The signs were situated so as to be clearly visible to approaching traffic and were lawfully placed. 

“The driver failed to comply with the signs by driving straight past both sets of signs at speed towards Page Street. 

“The march which Extinction Rebellion were engaged in had over 10,000 people with families and children. If the car had come into contact with these, it would have caused serious injuries, if not fatal.” 

On December 5 Jiang’s case was heard at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, he was not present. 

The charges were found guilty in his absence. 

Jiang was fined £120, told to pay £110 in costs and a £48 surcharge. 

He was also given five points on his licence.