Canberra Extinction Rebellion members Deanna 'Violet' Coco and Catherine Anne Adams convicted for crimes from protests

Deanna "Violet" Maree Coco, 30, was sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to damaging Commonwealth property and committing an unreasonable obstruction.

The court heard that on August 10, Coco set ablaze a pram at the forecourt of Parliament House in a bid to get the government to act more towards climate issues.

The damage left a "scorching mark" on the ground.

Six days earlier during a protest along Kings Avenue Bridge during peak-hour traffic in the early evening, the self-described moral philosopher lay on the road and glued her right palm on it.

Her action contributed to traffic being backed up to about 1km. It took police two attempts to remove her before she was arrested.

In his sentencing, Magistrate Robert Cook told Coco he was not "here to receive political statements" and referred her to one of the world's greatest leaders in nonviolent actions in trying to solve problems.

"The best way to always do it is as Gandhi always did - with passiveness and with consistency, not with violence and damage to property," Mr Cook said.

Mr Cook said he and the courts understood Coco and other Extinction Rebellion members' "passionate approach" and that they had genuine concerns about the environment.

"[But] someone's got to come along and try to scrape [the burnt mark] off or remove using chemicals, which inherently you're against I would've thought," he said.

"The very thing you're trying to pursue is enabling others to do the very thing you don't want."

He said his role was to determine the appropriate punishment "under a complex set of sentencing provisions" in court instead of engaging in political issues.

Coco, who had to be interrupted a number of times by Mr Cook after she tried to make statements about climate change, had argued for non-conviction orders and said she was "very deeply sorry" for the damage.

"But I'm hoping to achieve something much greater with my actions," Coco said.

"My intention was to damage my own property. I did light the pram on fire next to a large body of water."

Coco, who had spent 16 days in pre-sentence custody, said she had tried for several years in raising awareness about climate issues using legal avenues, but "those cries have gone unheard".

Coco, who now resides in Canberra, was convicted for both offences and sentenced to good behaviour orders of three and six months.

If she defaults, she would be ordered to pay $150 for the obstruction offence and $250 for the property damage one.

A charge of trespassing Commonwealth premises was withdrawn.

Outside of court, she said the symbolism of burning the pram was because "our children's futures are at stake".

"With the current trajectory of our warming, we are looking at billions of deaths, starvations, no water," she said.

Coco said she fully intended to be of good behaviour, which includes engaging in civil disobedience.

She is scheduled to be back before the court in January for a hearing for unrelated matters.

MORE COURT AND CRIME NEWS

Earlier in the court session, fellow protester Catherine Anne Adams, 60, was convicted of trespassing Commonwealth premises and fined $100 with three months to pay.

The court heard Adams, an underemployed graphics designer and disability worker, climbed to the roof of a building when Extinction Rebellion held a protest during peak-hour traffic in Civic on August 3.

Four other protesters were convicted and fined $20 for each offence in August while three others had their charges dismissed.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: