Judge praises Insulate Britain activists then fines them over M25 protest

The group blocked traffic, including an ambulance carrying a patient, by sitting across Junction 3 of the motorway in September last year.

Some demonstrators glued themselves to the tarmac while one stuck himself to a police car.

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Nine of the activists admitted charges in relation to the protest at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Mary Adams, 68, Ian Bates, 63, Karen Matthews, 60, Margurite Doubleday, 67, Bethany Mogie, 39, and Xavier Gonzalez-Trimmer, 21, and Lucy Crawford, 52, pleaded guilty to wilful obstruction of free passage of the highway.

Biff Whipster, 54, admitted criminal damage after leaving a “hard, crusty layer of glue” on the window of a police vehicle.

Biff Whipster, 54, admitted criminal damage after gluing himself to a police car

Bates, Matthews and Whipster were told by District Judge Stephen Leake they had “inspired” him after making impassioned speeches about their concerns over the climate while representing themselves in court.

However, the judge added that his role was to “apply the law” and said their actions had caused “significant disruption” to the motorway.

“I have heard your voices,” he said. “They have inspired me and personally I intend to do what I can to reduce my own impact on the planet, so to that extent your voices are certainly heard.

“These are difficult cases for us judges because we have to apply the law and that is what we have sworn our judicial oaths to do.”

An ambulance carrying a patient who “urgently needed to be transported” was delayed when Adams refused to move out of its path, with officers having to “drag” her out of the way, prosecutor Kat Shields said.

The cost to the economy caused by the disruption was about £4,603, with an estimated 18,000 vehicles affected across the wider area, according to evidence from National Highways.

The judge said the protesters had “no doubt” been acting in a way they believed was “morally right” but had still committed a criminal offence.

Xavier Gonzalez-Trimmer, who has previous convictions for similar protest-related offences, was fined £266

Bates and Mogie were fined £200 while Gonzalez-Trimmer, who had previous convictions for similar protest-related offences, was fined £266.

Whipster was handed a £120 fine, with the judge taking into consideration his financial situation and the fact that he is currently on Universal Credit.

Adams was fined £250 after the judge found her refusal to move out of the path of the ambulance a “serious” aggravating factor while Doubleday was fined £150.

Five protesters, Tim Speers, Daniell Thomas, Peter Morgan, Louise Lancaster and Iain Webb did not attend court and were convicted of wilful obstruction after a trial was held in their absence.

Thomas and Speers were fined £200 while Morgan, who had previous convictions for similar protest-related offences, was fined £400.

Lancaster was fined £330, and Webb was fined £300.

Gabriella Ditton and Barry Mitchell each indicated not guilty pleas to wilful obstruction and will attend Horsham Magistrates’ Court on May 11.

Victoria Lindsell and Michelle Charlesworth, each accused of one count of wilful obstruction and Louis McKechnie, charged with criminal damage, had their hearings adjourned until April 28 at Crawley Magistrates’ Court.