A new video has surfaced capturing the moment a spontaneous woman removes a live lobster from an upscale fish restaurant and releases it into a harbor. The woman, believed to be an animal rights activist, mistakenly thought she was saving the lobster from being cooked, not realizing it was actually a pet used for educational purposes.

The incident, which unfolded at the Catch at the Old Fish Market in Weymouth, Dorset, shows Emma Smart, 47, calmly entering the restaurant and proceeding to the fish tank where the lobster was housed. Despite attempts by restaurant staff to intervene, Smart managed to take the lobster and drop it into the water.

The lobster, owned by the restaurant’s proprietor for over two years, was a teaching tool for children and not meant for consumption. Following the incident, Smart faced charges of criminal damage and appeared in court where she received a conditional discharge and a ban from coming near the restaurant.

Smart, described as a marine biologist with a strong passion for animal welfare, admitted to acting impulsively out of concern for the lobster’s well-being. The judge emphasized that the lobster was not meant to be eaten but was there for educational purposes, calling the act misguided and potentially harmful to the lobster.

This was not Smart’s first encounter with the law, as she had previously faced legal issues related to a separate incident at the same restaurant. Despite her intentions, her actions were deemed inappropriate and potentially harmful to the lobster, the fate of which remains unknown.