Sofia Fernandes-Pontes, right, on an anti-dairy demonstration

A WOMAN who has been accused of pouring milk over the red carpets of Fortnum & Mason and the cheese displays of Selfridges has said anti-dairy campaigners were prepared to be arrested for their protests.

Animal Rebellion protester Sofia Fernandes-Pontes, 26, said she was part of attempts to secure a “transition to a plant-based future”.

Campaigners have descended on the capital to pour milk in shops and on the streets because they argue that the dairy industry is adding to climate change – figures from 2015 show it produced almost double the amount of CO2 as aviaton.

Ms Fernades-Pontes and another Animal Rebellion protester were arrested by police investigating milk pouring in high end central London shops.

She intends to plead not guilty in court and tell a jury about the dangers of climate change.

“We need to transition to a plant-based future, and we need to help these farmers who aren’t even getting a fraction of [the prices] being asked in the supermarkets,” she told the Tribune.

“We’re at the end of our deadline. There’s absolutely no other way the government is going to listen to us. In the grand scheme of things, it’s completely worth it.”

Ms Fernandes-Pontes, from King’s Cross, who grew up in Islington and now studies psychology at London Metropolitan University, said she had already been given a trial by newspapers after being accused of criminal damage.

National titles dug into her private life and, she says, printed incorrect details.

“It’s not uncommon for newspapers to do that, and I do think it was something that we were prepared for if something like this were to happen,” she said.

“Ultimately, at least for myself, what really matters is if the action that anybody does gets any kind of press, then it’s good press for us, because it’s still helping to get our message across.”

She added: “You don’t need to have kids to consider future generations… those who are in power at the moment, it’s not their generation who are going to feel the full force of climate change.

“Honestly, I’m ready to go in front of a jury and believe in them to understand.”