Two Bristol protesters who took part in an Insulate Britain blockade have been found not guilty of causing a public nuisance. A crown court jury returned the verdict on Wednesday (January 11) in the fourth trial relating to Insulate Britain’s campaign of non-violent civil resistance last year, which was undertaken to demand the UK government insulates Britain’s cold and leaky homes.
Among the four defendants was Reverend Sue Parfitt, an 80-year-old vicar from Bristol who had previously said she was prepared to go to prison and didn't want to be treated differently because of her age. Bristol University worker Benjamin Buse, 37, from Somerset, also walked free from court last week after the case concluded.
They were joined by Christian Rowe, 25, from Southwark and Ruth Jarman, 59, from Hampshire who were also declared not guilty of causing a public nuisance. The charge related to the Insulate Britain roadblock at Cranford Parkway on the M4 on October 1, 2021.
