Insulate Britain protesters have been praised by a judge, who said he was “inspired” by their commitment to greener living, as he fined 12 of them over a demonstration that disrupted the journeys of drivers on the M25.
The protesters blocked traffic at junction 3 of the motorway. Some glued themselves to the tarmac, while another glued himself to a police car.
Nine of the activists admitted charges in relation to the protest either by post or in person at Crawley magistrates court on Tuesday.
Mary Adams, 68, Ian Bates, 63, Karen Matthews, 60, Margurite Doubleday, 67, Bethany Mogie, 39, Xavier Gonzalez-Trimmer, 21, and Lucy Crawford, 52, each pleaded guilty to wilful obstruction of free passage of the highway
Biff Whipster, a 54-year-old from Canterbury, admitted criminal damage by leaving a “hard, crusty layer of glue” on the window of a police vehicle during the demonstration.
Bates, Matthews and Whipster were told by Stephen Leake, the district judge, that they had “inspired” him after making impassioned speeches about their concerns over the climate while representing themselves in court.
Leake said: “They have inspired me and personally I intend to do what I can to reduce my own impact on the planet, so to that extent your voices are certainly heard,” while adding: “I have heard your voices.”
Despite saying their actions were inspiring, Leake added that his role was to “apply the law” and said their actions had caused “significant disruption” to the motorway. “These are difficult cases for us judges because we have to apply the law and that is what we have sworn our judicial oaths to do.”
The court heard that the action caused disruption to an estimated 18,000 vehicles across the wider area, including an ambulance carrying a patient who “urgently needed to be transported”, according to evidence from National Highways.
Protesters attending court on Monday, all of whom sat in the public gallery throughout the hearing, claimed they had exhausted all other means of campaigning over the climate crisis and resorted to “non-violent protest” to highlight their cause.
Tissues were passed around by a member of court staff as several broke down in tears and held their faces in their hands while fellow activists voiced their fears over a “desperate” environmental situation.
The judge said the protesters had “no doubt” been acting in a way they believed was “morally right” but had still committed a criminal offence.
The 12 protesters received fines that ranged between £120 and £400.
Another three protesters, Victoria Lindsell and Michelle Charlesworth, who were each accused of one count of wilful obstruction, and Louis McKechnie, who was charged with criminal damage, had their hearings adjourned until 28 April at Crawley magistrates court.
