NEWS
Paul Sharkey and Edward Gordon-Saker prosecute Just Stop Oil protestors jailed for M25 protest
Paul Sharkey and Edward Gordon-Saker prosecuted six defendants for causing a Public Nuisance arising out of their actions as part of a Just Stop Oil protest.
During rush hour on the morning of 9 November 2022, Gaie Delap, Paul Sousek, George Simonson, Paul Bell, Daniel Johnson and Theresa Higginson mounted gantries at various points over the M25, some unfurling banners, and glueing or locking themselves to the structures.
Police were forced to close parts of the M25 for several hours while the protestors were removed by specialist teams. The road closures caused massive disruption and inconvenience to members of the public. Schools, funeral services and ambulance services were affected.
The protest formed part of 4 days of action over successive days by the protest group in November 2022. The road closures on 9 November 2022 impacted over 100,000 vehicles, causing nearly 9,000 hours of vehicles delay, and with an estimated economic cost of over £135,000. The cost to the Metropolitan Police in policing the protests was over £200,000.
They defendants originally pleaded not guilty and sought to argue that they had a defence of reasonable excuse to the charge. They contended that their actions represented an exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and that conviction and punishment would constitute a disproportionate interference with those rights.
When the case was listed for trial in March 2024, the defendants pleaded guilty to the offence of Intentionally or Recklessly Causing a Public Nuisance, contrary to section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
On 1 August 2024, five of the six defendants were sentenced to immediate terms of imprisonment of between 20 and 24 months. A sixth defendant was sentenced to a suspended term of imprisonment with a requirement to undertake unpaid work
Sentencing the defendants at Basildon Crown Court, His Honour Judge Collery KC told the defendants, “Your actions were disproportionate to your aims.”
Paul and Edward were instructed by Ben Brighouse of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Further information can be found here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgxqwwev50ko
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/02/judge-just-stop-oil-activists-blase-life-disrupted/