Elstree YouTubers ordered to carry out unpaid work
5 March 2019, 18:20 | Updated: 5 March 2019, 18:24
Two YouTube pranksters who filmed themselves invading the Celebrity Big Brother set have been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Ally Law, 22, of Hepworth Close in Southampton, Hampshire, and Ryan Taylor, 25, of Lichfield Road in Bloxwich, West Midlands, have millions of views on their YouTube accounts.
The pair were convicted of two charges of aggravated trespass after causing concern to the stars of the reality TV show in January 2018 when they sneaked into the set at Elstree Studios.
At St Albans Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, Stuart Jack sentenced the men to 120 hours of unpaid work.
They were also ordered to pay compensation of £200 and £100 to two individuals (£150 from each defendant) affected by the trespassing, £1000 each in costs and a surcharge of £85 each - a total of £1,235 each.
Mr Jack said while Law and Taylor intended to cause obstruction, they had not intended to intimidate.
He said they used a high-vis jacket as a disguise.
At a previous hearing, Law and Taylor were found guilty of trespassing at the Big Brother set on two separate occasions, one of which was during a live eviction show.
The pair climbed over a fence at the studios and were then pursued by security while filming the stunt on a GoPro camera and then posting the footage online.
Housemates on the January 2018 series of the Channel 5 show included Boyzone singer Shane Lynch and dancer Wayne Sleep.
Law and Taylor sat in the same row as their legal representatives for the court hearing on Tuesday.
Law's YouTube channel has 2.6 million subscribers and features videos entitled Scariest Thing I've Ever Done, Sneaking Into West Ham Stadium and Sneaking Into Butlins Holiday Resort.
In the about section it reads: "Just sharing my best attempt at life with you all, Enjoy."
Taylor's YouTube channel has 1.6 million subscribers and includes videos entitled Sneaking Inside Olympic Race Track and Climbing the Tallest Bridge in England.
In his about section, it says:
"I love the life I live. and I do what I want when I want. Usually vlog it too and upload EVERY single DAY!"
Law also scaled the 205ft (62.5m) Stealth ride in Thorpe Park in July 2017 with a camera.
He was previously given an interim criminal behaviour order (CBO), which applies across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The court said on Tuesday this would be in place until March 2024.
The order bans him from entering any film or TV studio, areas of a bridge or building not open to the public, any commercial property outside business hours and any property owned by Merlin Entertainments.
A Merlin spokesman said:
"So-called 'urban explorers' risk their own lives, but also potentially endanger our visitors, employees and property.
The health and safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority and today's decision should reinforce the fact that reckless and irresponsible trespass could have serious consequences on those who trespass as well as others."
