Five Insulate Britain activists are jailed for up to 42 days each while ELEVEN are spared prison for breaching M25 road blocking injunction - after eco mob staged protest inside High Court by draping 'Insulate or die' banner from balcony
Five Insulate Britain activists have been jailed at the High Court after breaching an injunction by protesting on the M25 last year.
Theresa Norton, 63, Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35, and Steve Pritchard, 62, who glued themselves to the steps in defiance of the proceedings yesterday, were given between 24 and 42 days. Ben Taylor, 27, was jailed for 32 days.The remaining 11 protesters were given suspended sentences, but will be jailed if they breach the injunction within the next two years.
Biff Whipster, 54, Stephen Gower, 55, and Paul Sheeky, 46, were given 24-day terms and Ruth Jarman, 58, and Rev Sue Parfitt, 79, were given 30-day sentences.
Meanwhile Ben Buse, 36, received a 40-day sentence; David Nixon, 35, Gabriella Ditton, 28, Indigo Rumbelow, 27, and Stephanie Aylett, 27, were given 42-day terms; and Christian Rowe, 24, received a 60-day sentence.
It comes after two eco-zealots staged a protest at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning by hanging a banner saying 'insulate or die'.
Demonstrators draped the huge placard - which was black with white writing on it - from the balcony before it was ripped down
Theresa Norton, 63, Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35, and Steve Pritchard, 62, who glued themselves to the steps in defiance of the proceedings yesterday, were given between 24 and 42 days. They are pictured glued to the steps outside the court yesterday
Meanwhile Ben Taylor, 27, was jailed for 32 days. He was given six months in prison by the High Court in November
The 19: Ruth Jarman 58, Dr Diana Warner 62, Jessica Causby 25, Stephen Gower 55, Liam Norton 37, Ben Taylor 27, Dr Ben Buse 36, Gabriella Ditton 28, Arne Springorum 49, Paul Sheeky 46, Theresa Norton 63, Stephanie Aylett 27, Indigo Rumbelow 27, Ellie Litten 35, David Nixon 35, Christian Rowe 24. , Biff Whipster 54, Rev Sue Parfitt 79, Steve Pritchard 62
Announcing the court's ruling, Mr Justice William Davis said he and Mr Justice Johnson were not reviewing the injunction.
The judge said: 'We are simply concerned with the fact that an order was made by a court and a court order is to be obeyed.
'The rule of law would fall apart if people decided which orders and which laws they chose to abide by and which they did not.'
He said they were asked by Mr Pritchard earlier on Wednesday to 'exercise moral courage and imagination'.
The judge continued: 'I emphasise, we are here to enforce a lawful court order... what we are engaged in is in no sense a value judgment about the merits or demerits of Government policy in relation to climate change. This is a court of law, not of public policy.'
He said the four people who glued themselves to the steps of the court on Tuesday were not being punished for those actions, but he added that it 'does demonstrate their anxiety to continue the protest with which we are dealing today'.
During the hearing, some of the activists read out mitigation statements to the court, bragging about the disruption they caused and defending it.
Taylor said: 'There is a lot I could say about this ridiculous and sad situation. That people are unnecessarily suffering in their millions and dying in their thousands in this country due to fuel poverty.'
'Reducing CO2 emissions is something the government is legally obliged to do. Sir David King, the former chief scientific advisor to the government, said 'What we do in the next 3-4 years will determine the future of humanity'. I ask everyone in this courtroom to take the time to consider the gravity of our situation.'
Norton said: 'A recent report by Scarborough borough council concluded that 25% of the residents I represent are living in fuel poverty. That's one quarter of my ward who either have to go cold or hungry every winter. Who cannot feed their families, children going to school hungry and struggling to learn. Who cares about them? Certainly not our local Tory MP, Sir Robert Goodwill, who has consistently voted against every motion that has come before him that would help alleviate the suffering of thousands of his constituents.'
'I joined the Insulate Britain campaign because I've had enough. And until this government makes good on its own climate commitments I will continue to fight for climate and social justice for as long as I have the breath inside me.'
Aylett said: 'I am doing this not just for my children, but all of ours. The people of our world need to know the truth, and that truth will come with difficult and abrupt changes.
'The longer we fail to act, the greater the challenge that awaits our children. On our current path, their lives will be filled with food shortages, floods and war.'
'We focused on insulation, as our housing energy is responsible for around 16% of total emissions. Unfortunately, it was only by causing some disruption that we succeeded in prompting the media to focus on the issue of fuel poverty in the UK.'
And Jarman said: 'I admit that I broke the injunction - it was a choice I made because I answer to a higher authority, that of love and life.
'I felt that not joining the Insulate Britain protests would make me a bystander to violence and complicit in the breakdown of abundant and civilised life.
'I am sorry for the impact of our protests on the people who were affected. I hate disrupting people and my actions were aiming to prevent the greater disruption of climate breakdown. So I do not regret breaking the injunction and I cannot promise not to do it again.'
Theresa Norton (left), 63, and Dr Diana Warner (right), 62, were arrested after gluing themselves together and refusing to attend a hearing at the High Court
El Litten, 35, was also among the group of protesters who glued themselves together as a show of 'resistance' outside the court on Tuesday
Earlier Arne Springorum, 49, whose case was dismissed yesterday, and a fellow activist known as 'Hannah Banner', 58, shouted 'time to act', and 'insulate Britain' from the balcony.
They yelled: 'I don't want to do this but I feel compelled to,' and 'take the climate crisis seriously'. Security guards removed the banner and urged the two protesters to leave, which was met by a applause from activists.
Mr Springorum is an expert in industrial energy who came from the Czech Republic to join Insulate Britain, leaving his wife and children behind.
Legal proceedings against the protesters descended into farce yesterday as four activists glued themselves together outside the High Court.
Another three were told they could go free – despite two openly telling the judge they believed they had broken a court order banning the group from blocking the M25.
One of the group, Liam Norton, 37, said: 'I don't think I've got a leg to stand on. I was aware I was going to break the injunction.'
But Lord Justice William Davis dismissed the proceedings, saying: 'You're anxious for the opposite to be done. I'm very sorry but we as a court will not find someone guilty of contempt of court.'
The men were among 19 members of Insulate Britain facing possible jail terms for allegedly breaking the injunction.
Jessica Causby (left), 25, and Arne Springorum (right), 49, were told they are 'free to go' yesterday after judges concluded they had not breached an injunction
Liam Norton (pictured) was also one of three members of Insulate Britain ruled not to have breached the injunction by High Court judges yesterday
The protests against the Government's slow progress in insulating homes caused massive tailbacks, disruption and angry confrontations with motorists.
All 19 defendants – who faced a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine – crammed into a courtroom in high-vis vests yesterday morning, including 79-year-old Anglican priest Rev Sue Parfitt.
But hours later, four refused to return, saying they had a 'duty' to protest outside instead.
Labour councillor Theresa Norton, 63, retired GP Diana Warner, 62, Ellie Litten, 35, and parish councillor Steve Pritchard, 62, glued themselves to the steps at the entrance to the High Court.
They sent a note to judges explaining the reason for their non-attendance, saying: 'The four of us feel we have to continue our resistance today because we don't want to cooperate with a system which is causing so much death and hardship.'
The four were later arrested by officers and were cheered by fellow protesters as they were led away, with the last of the four being removed by about 5.15pm. Insulate Britain claimed the four risked prison.
Lord Justice Davis read out a note from the four, which said: 'The four of us feel we have to continue our resistance today because we don't want to cooperate with a system which is causing so much death and hardship.'
Earlier, High Court judges told three members of the eco-mob they are 'free to go' after concluding they had not breached the injunction during a protest at South Mimms roundabout by the M25 on November 2, 2021.
National Highways sought to bring contempt of court proceedings against Arne Springorum, 49, Liam Norton, 37, and Jessica Causby, 25, after they took part in a protest near the motorway on November 2 last year.
According to National Highways' written submissions, Mr Springorum and Ms Causby glued themselves to the pavement during their protest action, while Mr Norton allegedly 'endangered the free flow of traffic'.
The demonstration was intended to block the M25 near Junction 23 at Bignells Corner, Potters Bar, but Lord Justice William Davis decided that area was not covered by the M25 injunction.
He said: 'The application in their cases has been dismissed so there's no further reference to them in these proceedings.' The judge told the protesters that they were 'free to go'.
A ruling will be handed down to the rest of the group on Wednesday afternoon. Lord Justice Davis said proceedings will resume at 10.30am so the court can address the cases of the four protesters who chose to stop attending proceedings.
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The other activists in court yesterday admit or do not contest claims they breached a High Court injunction in relation to Insulate Britain protests between Junction 28 and 29 of the M25 on October 29 last year, according to National Highways' written arguments.
They are Ben Taylor, 27; Ben Buse, 36; Biff Whipster, 54; David Nixon, 35; Diana Warner, 62; Ellie Litten, 35; Gabriella Ditton, 28; Indigo Rumbelow, 27; Paul Sheeky, 46; Ruth Jarman, 58; Stephanie Aylett, 27; Stephen Gower, 55; Stephen Pritchard, 62; Rev Sue Parfitt, 79; and Theresa Norton, 63.
Owen Greenhall, who represented Ms Causby, as well as Dr Warner and Mr Buse, said the latter two intended not to break the court injunction again after previously receiving a prison sentence in December for another breach.
He said Mr Buse had decided to 'move away from direct action' after seeing the impact of the earlier court proceedings on his family.
Dr Warner, who was handed a two-month prison term in December and released from custody on January 14, will 'continue to do everything she can to help save lives', Mr Greenhall added.
Asking judges not to impose on her an immediate prison term, Mr Greenhall said the Bristol GP took 'conscientious actions'.
These nine Insulate Britain eco zealots were jailed at the High Court last November after admitting breaching an injunction
Some protesters in court wore orange hi-vis vests, while Mr Taylor appeared from the courtroom dock as he continues to serve a six-month prison sentence imposed in November for a different injunction breach.
Representing himself, he told the judges that he had 'nothing to hide' and admitted breaching the injunction on October 29.
He said lockdown measures at HMP Thameside meant his prison time was 'much more severe'. Branding the injunction 'absurd', he said his ability to support his pregnant partner was also 'severely restricted'.
He told the court: 'I find it sickening, sad that people are unnecessarily suffering in their millions... increasingly in this country.'
He added there was a 'climate emergency' that 'our Government has openly recognised yet is not doing anything even remotely significant about'.
Insulate Britain said the four protesters who glued themselves together would 'remain outside of the court until they are removed or the court is no longer in session'.
Gabriella Ditton, 28, addressed the court yesterday afternoon, telling Lord Justice Davis she was 'ashamed' she was not outside with her fellow activists.
She said her mother has terminal brain cancer and 'that's the thing that's stopping me from being outside with those people.
Ms Ditton added: 'I am not scared to go to prison. I am a lot more frightened about what happens if we don't act on this issue.
'But I'm absolutely terrified about my mum dying while I'm in prison and I'm ashamed of that cowardice. We've been lied to so much by people in power.
'Even so recently they've demonstrated that the rules do not apply to them. I cannot show remorse because I do not regret my action. I regret that cases like these are clogging up the judicial system that is already stretched.
'The purpose of the injunction is to allow people to go about their daily business.'
Insulate Britain began a wave of demonstrations last September which included blocking the M25 and other roads in London, including around Parliament, as well as roads in Birmingham, Manchester and Dover in Kent.
A series of High Court injunctions against its road blockades were granted to National Highways and Transport for London to prevent their disruptive protests.
Those who breach them could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine as well as seizure of assets.
The offshoot from the Extinction Rebellion is calling on the UK Government to implement policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing.
It wants the UK government to promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025.
It wants it to produce 'within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low energy and low carbon whole-house retrofit, with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy'.
The hearing continues.
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