Judge Criticizes Just Stop Oil Activists for Disruptive Protests, Sentences Five to Prison

[Social Media]

 

In a stern rebuke to environmental activists, Judge Shane Collery KC condemned the actions of five Just Stop Oil protesters during a sentencing hearing at Basildon Crown Court. The protestors, involved in a disruptive demonstration on the M25 motorway, faced severe criticism for causing widespread disruption to the public. "It's easy to be blasé and dismissive when it's not your life that's being disrupted,"

 

Judge Collery told the defendants, emphasizing that their actions were disproportionate to their aims. He pointed out that their protest on November 9, 2022, aimed to create mass disruption to draw media attention to the Just Stop Oil cause. However, he noted that an accident occurred near one of the protest sites, remarking that it was "fortunate more accidents did not occur."

 

 

The defendants, comprising students, recent graduates, and retirees, were described by Judge Collery as intelligent individuals who should understand the consequences of their actions. He criticized the protest as "a curious way of seeking to influence public opinion" and suggested that there was an element of excitement in the day's action. While he acknowledged that the defendants were not the organizers, he labeled them "willing volunteers" and accepted that their conscientious motives were a relevant consideration. However, he maintained that their actions were still disproportionate.

 

 

All defendants had pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance at an earlier hearing. George Simonson, 24, of Leeds, and Theresa Higginson, 26, of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, were both sentenced to two years in prison. Simonson smiled and waved to the public gallery as he was led away, while Higginson shouted about her vegan diet, which she claimed did not make her ill.

 

Paul Bell, 24, of Exeter, received a sentence of one year and ten months, waving and blowing kisses as he was taken to the cells. Gaie Delap, 77, of Bristol, and Paul Sousek, 73, of Bude in Cornwall, were each sentenced to one year and eight months. The judge told Delap, "Age, I regret, has not brought wisdom." Sousek, who tried to read from a document before being escorted away, said, "Thank you very much."

A sixth defendant, Daniel Johnson, 25, of Perth and Kinross in Scotland, was spared jail. The judge accepted Johnson's expression of remorse as genuine, describing him as the "only defendant with a realistic prospect of rehabilitation." Johnson was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £750 in costs.

 

The judge ordered the confiscation of the activists' climbing equipment, locks, and banners. Gasps were heard at the start of the sentencing when the judge announced that all but Johnson would receive immediate terms of imprisonment. A second count of causing a public nuisance against all six defendants was ordered to lie on the file.

 

Francesca Cociani, representing Delap, Bell, Johnson, and Higginson, criticized the decision to imprison peaceful protesters as a grave injustice. "Peaceful protest is a fundamental right and a vital tool for enacting positive societal change," Cociani stated. She noted that increasingly lengthy prison terms for such individuals were previously unseen and sent a disturbing message in a liberal democracy. Cociani indicated that they were exploring options, including the possibility of an appeal, to challenge the decision and defend the fundamental right to peaceful protest.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph  2024-08-05

 

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

[richard_smith237]

And rightly so too... 

 

As with free-speech, the freedom must come with responsibility. 

In this case freedom to protest must with the responsibility not to cause harm and chaos. 

 

These protestors are a nuisance to society and do more harm for any cause they are trying to promote than good.

 

They're as dumb as the extinction rebellion fools, they methods and protests show similar characteristics and equally flawed and brainless logic.

 

 

[it is what it is]

 

they take a sick form of pleasure in causing inconvenience and hurt to others, stopping families going on holiday, stopping people attending funerals, stopping ambulances taking people to hospital. they deserve all the punishment they receive.

[Watawattana]

Whilst I've got no problem with these people getting jail time, I find it a bit odd that UK politicians criticise the Hong Kong Government for introducing laws that could jail peaceful protestors, whilst doing exactly the same themselves.

[BritManToo]

17 minutes ago, Watawattana said:

Whilst I've got no problem with these people getting jail time, I find it a bit odd that UK politicians criticise the Hong Kong Government for introducing laws that could jail peaceful protestors, whilst doing exactly the same themselves.

Any protest that forcefully disrupts the lives of others is an act of violence. If they want peaceful, they should stand in a field with their signs.

[Watawattana]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Any protest that forcefully disrupts the lives of others is an act of violence. If they want peaceful, they should stand in a field with their signs.

 

Yeah, totally agree.

[nobodysfriend]

Extinction Rebellion , Just stop Oil activists , want to tell everyone what everyone knows already .

If want to protest , it's ok , just do it in a way that does no harm to others .

The protests in their current form only leads to people hating them .

That can't be their goal .

[Purdey]

Weird. They hold a peaceable protest and get five years. Elsewhere in the UK, extremely violent protesters get... 

[Luuk Chaai]

On 8/5/2024 at 3:56 AM, richard_smith237 said:

And rightly so too... 

 

As with free-speech, the freedom must come with responsibility. 

In this case freedom to protest must with the responsibility not to cause harm and chaos. 

 

These protestors are a nuisance to society and do more harm for any cause they are trying to promote than good.

 

They're as dumb as the extinction rebellion fools, they methods and protests show similar characteristics and equally flawed and brainless logic.

 

 

 

they should get a public ass whipping to go along with that jail sentance !

[Captain Flack]

A reported off topic post and all replies has been removed.

[transam]

On 8/5/2024 at 3:15 PM, Purdey said:

Weird. They hold a peaceable protest and get five years. Elsewhere in the UK, extremely violent protesters get... 

If YOU were queuing up on the M25 to get to Gatwick and you missed your flight to LOS, what would you want done to these fruitcakes.....?

 

Be honest now...........

[Purdey]

On 8/7/2024 at 6:48 PM, transam said:

If YOU were queuing up on the M25 to get to Gatwick and you missed your flight to LOS, what would you want done to these fruitcakes.....?

 

Be honest now...........

Honestly? Certainly not 5 years in prison. Fines are more acceptable. Keep prison for the violent guys burning police stations and cars.

[transam]

1 minute ago, Purdey said:

Honestly? Certainly not 5 years in prison. Fines are more acceptable. Keep prison for the violent guys burning police stations and cars.

The 5 years was for the instigator, the planner of attacks, probably out in 2 looking at McDonald's for a new career....😉

[RuamRudy]

On 8/7/2024 at 7:48 PM, transam said:

If YOU were queuing up on the M25 to get to Gatwick and you missed your flight to LOS, what would you want done to these fruitcakes.....?

 

Be honest now...........

 

Correct, but that's why punishment should be objective rather than vengeful. 

[transam]

1 minute ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Correct, but that's why punishment should be objective rather than vengeful. 

The Mastermind, the brains, carries the can....Out in 2 years.....😉

[riclag]

On 8/7/2024 at 3:49 AM, Luuk Chaai said:

 

they should get a public ass whipping to go along with that jail sentance !

The sooner good traditional people start calling the Marxist radicals ideology out for  their extremist actions the better it will be for society!

 

But I don’t see that happening any time soon ! This is how they get their foot in the door, , example France & Uk.

imop

 

[BritManToo]

1 minute ago, riclag said:

The sooner good traditional people start calling the Marxist radicals ideology out for  their extremist actions the better it will be for society!

 

But I don’t see that happening any time soon ! This is how they get their foot in the door, , example France & Uk.

imop

 

As a Marxist radical, I can definitely state, none of the people you mention want women to be property and land to be redistributed.

 

In fact the closest politically to me appears to be the Taliban.

[riclag]

Just so you know, cause you replied to my comment!

 

 

Lets leave it up to the story tellers , who get paid for their expertise!

You won’t find these truth bombs on any popular msm discourse programs that you’ve reading into.imop

 

 

Stop Oil is another facet of the same radical ideology thats prevalent all over-the world !

 

 The Marxist ideology is multi faceted, they represent causes related to , social justice , green energy , neo carbon emissions ,colonization , anti traditional values and more!

“These beliefs are consistent with the neo-Marxist ideology that holds Western civilization to be evil because it was founded on oppressor colonial conquest—mostly of people of color”.

The scarf wearing radical in the picture of this news piece ,ties them all together , stop oil, divest , diversity equity inclusion, green energy, colonialism, all social justice causes that have joined forces with terror purveyors! 

 

“This same ideology condemns the United States as a racist, oppressor state built on colonialism and slavery.

This idea is at the heart of today’s prevalent “woke” philosophy, which holds white Americans and other “oppressor classes,” responsible.

 

 

 

 

https://www.jns.org/most-pro-palestinian-demonstrators-are-not-just-anti-israel-they-are-also-anti-american/

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9 by riclag