A woman who blocked a busy junction of the M25 in a protest said she “acted for public good”.

Insulate Britain activist Venetia Carter, 58, of Sutherland Road, Brighton, defended her actions.

She is one of four defendants on trial for blocking the Swanley Interchange of the M25 in Kent on September 13, 2021.

Carter said: “I was acutely aware of the disruption caused and am keenly reminded during this trial.

“I am as sorry now as I was then for the disruption

“I don’t believe what I did was a public nuisance, I did obstruct the highway.

“I took part in that day in the hope I would be able to make a positive difference.

“I can say hand on heart I acted for public good in acting on the climate crisis.

“This is a role for government, which they are failing miserably to do.

“It was a difficult, stressful and scary experience that I feel I have no personal benefit from.”

Carter is appearing in court alongside Alexander Rodger, Cathy Eastburn and Cameron Ford.

Each of the four defendants deny one count of causing a public nuisance.

Carter held back tears as gave a statement during summing up at Hove Crown Court.

“Those of us who sat in the road that day are ordinary people,” Carter told the jury.

“We are scared of what lies in store for us and our children if things carry on as they are.”

The court previously heard how the protesters, all wearing orange high-visibility tabards, walked into the busy road junction after a traffic light turned red.

They unfurled a banner across the road and then sat down across the carriageway blocking the junction.

The mass trespass blocked the road for more than three hours from 8am.

Summing up today, Alex Young, prosecuting, said: “The defendants set out to cause maximum disruption to major roads.

"This was partly to cause change in government policy and partly to get publicity.

“They had good intentions but intentions, good or otherwise, are irrelevant in law.

"People acting in good faith can nonetheless cause damage to others’ lives.

“Their view of the world and view of what needed to be done trumped all other considerations.

"They decided to inflict misery, hardship and financial loss on a section of the public.”

Carter, Ford and Eastburn are representing themselves.

Rodger, 32, of Ditchling Road, is represented by Raj Chada.

The trial, which is scheduled until the end of the week, is being presided over by Judge Stephen Mooney.

The court previously heard that the 12 protesters were first arrested for obstructing the highway.

This was later changed to causing a public nuisance.

If convicted, the maximum sentence is 10 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

The jury has now retired to consider a verdict.