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If you found yourself inside a defence firm's factory holding a sledgehammer in the middle of the night would you perhaps consider the possibility that you might encounter a security guard? I would, especially if I was accompanied by five other people. Yet six Palestine Action supporters who today were cleared of aggravated burglary at Woolwich Crown Court were apparently not so imaginative.

There they were on an 'action' at Israeli-based Elbit Systems' UK site and Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin thought nobody would interrupt their mission to destroy equipment. A jury - which deliberated for 36 hours and 34 minutes - was unable to reach verdicts for charges of criminal damage against all six.

All defendants except Mr Devlin gave evidence, telling jurors they were on the premises without permission and damaged equipment including computers and drones.

Ms Rajwani, Ms Rogers and Mr Devlin were found not guilty of violent disorder. The jury failed to reach a verdict over the allegation Mr Corner, 23, inflicted grievous bodily harm on Police Sergeant Kate Evans.

Nor was a verdict reached on charges of violent disorder against Ms Head, Mr Corner and Ms Kamio.

Rajiv Menon KC, defending the six, told the court that they had not expected to see security guards and that they were "completely out of their depth" when such personnel materialised.

They'd "genuinely believed" their action at the factory would help Palestinians, the court was told.

And so the familiar narcissism of the activist Left once again threatens to taint its fumbling footsoldiers.

Full of righteous fury, half a dozen demonstrators entered a defence factory wielding heavy tools and didn't expect resistance.

Surely such a scenario speaks to a profound sense of entitlement?

It could well be true, judging by the plum-in-mouth pronouncements to which ordinary people are subjected as reheated hippies hysterically hold forth on allegations they don't understand.

But might it be suggested to our six saviours that being greeted by security guards in this instance was not a freak occurrence?

Maybe they can float it at the next meeting of P***-takers for Palestine.