The case against three campaigners charged with aggravated trespass has been thrown out of court.

Kieran Denman, Catherine Lambert and Imam Sis were charged with the offences following a demonstration at the Defence Procurement, Research, Technology and Exportability (DPRTE) exhibition held at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, on March 27.

The demonstrators were accused of trespassing on private land near a security gate at the back of the arena and failing to move after warnings from police officers.

The three activists denied the allegations and were due to stand trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

But the charges against them were dropped before the trial began after it emerged the prosecution had failed to disclose vital evidence to the defence.

Protesters stood outside the DPRTE event in March

Defence counsel Meredoc McMinnn, Audrey Mogan and Camila Zapata Besso told District Judge Bodfan Jenkins that the Crown Prosecution Service only provided them with a map indicating where the demonstrators were stood on Wednesday, June 27.

The map and a supporting statement from Motorpoint General Manager Phil Sheeran outlined where the prosecution alleged the boundary of the Motorpoint Arena stood in relation to the position of the protesters.

They also said footage from police body-worn cameras was submitted at a later date than ordered during a preliminary hearing.

Crowds outside the Motorpoint on March 27

Audrey Mogan, representing Catherine Lambert, 29, of Dean Lane in Bristol, said the defence were only provided with the evidence three working days before the trial was due to begin.

District Judge Bodfan Jenkins said: "In the circumstances I am satisfied that the defence would be unable to cross examine effectively, and that the defendants wouldn't have the opportunity to show that they had not trespassed on land at the relevant time."

He added: "I make the judgement that [the evidence] should be excluded."

Outside the court 32-year-old Kieran Denman, of Merrett Court, Bristol, said: "It's an excellent result. I'm really relieved but quite frustrated that I have had to go through the whole criminal process just to have it dismissed."

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Imam Sis, 30, of Helford Square in Newport said: "I feel very happy to see the magistrates didn't allow that evidence from the police.

"We have a right to protest war criminals and that is what we did on the 27th March."

Travel expenses of £30 and £11 will be repaid to Catherine and Kieran respectively.