Just Stop Oil activists sentenced over Heathrow Airport disruption plot
The group of nine were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance
A group of Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters have been spared jail terms at their sentencing hearing at Isleworth Crown Court.
The nine activists were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after police stopped them from causing "unprecedented disruption" at Heathrow Airport on July 24 last year.
The defendants had either already served the time they were sentenced to or were handed suspended sentences.
Judge Hannah Duncan said: "No breach of the perimeter fence occurred. No disruption at all occurred. No actual harm was caused."
Judge's sentencing remarks
Judge Hannah Duncan told the defendants they treated their trial as an "extension of the protest", adding: "A court room is not a street or a town square, and it is run at considerable cost.
"It's where allegations of crimes are tried, where often the most vulnerable people in society find themselves as defendants or as witnesses.
"Victims of crime sadly have to wait a long time for their cases to be heard, to receive justice for the wrongs that have been done to them before they can move on.
"There are women and children who have been abused, sexually assaulted or raped who are waiting for court rooms. You used one for seven weeks. Some of you dragging it out as much as you could at every opportunity, lying about your actions and intentions that day all to get more publicity.
"It does not add a single day to your sentence but it demonstrates your lack of remorse until now and it exposes the lie of accountability."
The group appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 16 May where they were sentenced to the following:
• Sally Davidson, 37, of Easton Street, Portland sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
• Adam Beard, 55, of Stanton Road, Stroud was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
• Luke Elson, 32, of Buxton Road, Stratford was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 24 months and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
• Luke Watson, 35, of Tottenham Marshes was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
• Sean O’Callaghan, 30, of Old London Road, Dorking was sentenced to 11 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
• Hannah Schafer, 61, of Tanygroes, Ceredigion was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
• Rory Wilson, 26, of Lipton Road, Tower Hamlets was sentenced to 10 months in prison
• William Goldring, 27, of Rye Lane, Southwark was sentenced to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
• Rosa Hicks, 29, of Wharf Hill, Winchester was sentenced to 15 months in prison.