A trio of Insulate Britain activists have admitted causing a public nuisance by blocking parts of the M25 motorway.
Sue Spencer-Longhirst, 69, of Abbey Road, Oxford; Michelle Charlesworth, 55, of Villeboys Close, Abingdon; and Meredith Williams, 51, of Helen Street, Abingdon, each admitted two offences of causing a public nuisance when they appeared at Stratford Magistrates' Court on Friday, 22nd April 2022.
Causing a public nuisance is a common law offence. It is defined in Archbold as thus: "A person is guilty of a public nuisance (also known as common nuisance), who (a) does an act not warranted by law, or (b) omits to discharge a legal duty, if the effect of the act or omission is to endanger the life, health, property or comfort of the public, or to obstruct the public in the exercise or enjoyment of rights common to all Her Majesty's subjects."
There is no requirement of intention or recklessness. A person is guilty of causing a public nuisance if they knew, or ought to have known, that their actions or omissions would result in a nuisance being caused.
Causing a public nuisance is an either way offence. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is 6 months' custody; in the absence of legislation to the contrary, the maximum (theoretical) penalty on conviction on indictment is an unlimited period in custody.
David Earl, prosecuting, told the court that the offences were committed in an identical manner on 13th and 15th September 2021. Activists sat in the middle of the slip road and held banners saying Insulate Britain.
Referring to the offence of 13th September, which took place at Junction 14 of the M25 beside Heathrow Airport, Mr Earl said: "The duration was between 8.43 am and 11.41 am. It is estimated that 42,970 vehicles were affected with 1,449 vehicle hours lost and it is calculated that the financial impact was £62,669.
"There is evidence of impact to the public. A woman, who was two hours late to visit her 95-year-old mother who had a fall while she was waiting; a tutor of special needs students and other teachers who were delayed in attending work and disruption was caused to students of those lessons.
"There was also a pilot who missed his flight to Gibraltar which had to be rescheduled."
Two days later, on 15th September, the trio targeted motorists at Junction 24 of the M25 near Potters Bar.
On that occasion, the court heard, they blocked the slip road between 8.11 am and 11.46 am. This disrupted the journeys of 43,952 vehicles at a cost of £83,452.
An ambulance on a 999 call was one of the vehicles obstructed. It eventually arrived 55 minutes late to a chest pain emergency call out. A funeral director was delayed by 30 minutes on their way to a funeral.
Retired primary school teacher Spencer-Longhirst, pictured at the head of this article, read the following statement to the court: "I am truly sorry for the disruption caused. I would like to say that among the many frustrated drivers there were some who thanked us for what we were doing and I am convinced that others are not really aware of the climate crisis because of the government and the media.
"Many people cannot afford to heat their homes. It is a situation that is worsening.
"I am not a dangerous radical but I am very scared when I consider our children's futures and the future of all living things on the planet."
Magistrates' ordered pre-sentence reports.
The trio were bailed to appear at the same court for sentencing on Tuesday, 17th May 2022.
No comments:
Post a Comment