Eco-zealots handed record jail time after causing chaos on M25 at cost of £1.1m to taxpayers
FIVE Just Stop Oil eco-zealots have been handed record jail time after causing chaos on the M25.
Roger Hallam, 58, Daniel Shaw, 38, Louise Lancaster, 58, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, and Cressida Gethin, 22, bought the motorway to a standstill with their antics.
The group caused more than 50,000 hours of vehicle delay – affecting more than 700,000 vehicles – and left the M25 “compromised” for more than 120 hours.
They were jailed for a total of 21 years today after the November 2022 carnage cost British taxpayers £1.1million.
The eco-idiots shouted out “I love you” as they were led from the dock/
Judge Christopher Hehir said: “The plain fact is that each of you some time ago has crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic.”
Around 45 people scaled gantries on the motorway, Southwark Crown Court was told.
One police officer suffered concussion and bruising after being knocked off his motorbike in traffic caused by one of the protests.
The Sun exposed the group’s plans to police after going undercover on a Zoom call to discuss the plot.
Judge Hehir said the call showed “how intricately planned the disruption was and the sophistication involved”.
He also praised it as “compelling evidence” of the existence of a conspiracy.
All five defendants were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Ringleader Hallam was jailed for five years, while the remaining four protesters were each handed four years’ imprisonment.
The sentences today dwarf those given to
Just Stop Oil protesters Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker for scaling the Dartford Crossing.
They received three years and two years and seven months respectively for the October 2022 demonstration.