Jailed Anti-Fracking Activists Freed on Appeal

Three activists jailed for a protest at a fracking site in Lancashire have been freed on appeal. Simon Blevins, 26, Richard Roberts, 36, and Rich Loizou, 32, had their jail terms replaced with conditional discharges.  The three men were initially convicted of causing a public nuisance after they climbed onto lorries bringing drilling equipment to Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site last July.

They were sentenced to up to 16 months in prison, while a fourth protester Julian Brock, 47, was given a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. He did not challenge his sentence. Following the decision, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett said: “We have concluded that an immediate custodial sentence in the case of these appellants was manifestly excessive. In our judgment the appropriate sentence which should have been imposed on 26 September was a community order with a significant requirement of unpaid work. But these appellants have been in prison for six weeks. As a result, and only for that reason, we have concluded that the appropriate sentence now is a conditional discharge for two years.”

The packed courtroom erupted with applause and singing after the decision was announced. Hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice prior to the verdict, including family members of the three men, environmental campaigners and former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas. After the ruling, Platon Loizou, father of Rich Loizou, said: “We are just delighted. Today justice has really been done.

Read more: Josh Gabbatiss, Independent, https://is.gd/00DOcH