Insulate Britain campaigner ‘surprised’ after judges impose suspended sentences

Nine protesters appeared at a High Court hearing after admitting contempt – but only two were given immediate jail terms

Screengrab taken from PA video of Insulate Britain supporters (L to R) Paul Sheeky ,Rev Sue Parfitt, Biff Whipster, Ruth Jarman, Steve Pritchard, Steve Gower, and Richard Ramsden outside the High Court (PA) (PA Wire)

An Insulate Britain campaigner said she was “surprised” but “glad” after judges gave seven demonstrators suspended prison sentences following M25 protests.

Nine protesters were give prison sentences for admitting breaching an injunction, and being in contempt of court, at a High Court hearing in London.

But Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson gave only two immediate jail terms.

Insulate Britain said the “leniency” of the sentences was in contrast to immediate jail terms handed to protesters by judges a month ago.

Rev Sue Parfitt, 79, from Bristol was one of seven protesters given a suspended jail terms.

“I think we are surprised that seven of the sentences were suspended – but we are glad,” she told PA news.

“I think it shows as things move on the idea of sending peaceful protesters to prison is a nonsense.”

Wasn't it worth me sitting on the motorways to flag (our) message, and to interrupt people's lives for an hour or so, in order to protect our children?

Sue Parfitt

An Insulate Britain spokesman added: “The leniency of the sentences was in contrast to the jail terms of between three and six months handed out to the first group of people from Insulate Britain, convicted on November 17th.”

Insulate Britain said protests would continue.

Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson handed down sentences on Wednesday after National Highways took legal action against protesters.

They handed prison sentences, one of two months and one of 30 days, to two protesters, while the seven others received two-month suspended jail terms.

Judges also ordered defendants to pick up tens of thousands of pounds of National Highways’ legal bills.

National Highways claimed the protesters had breached an injunction and were in contempt of court.

Lord Justice Dingemans said each protester had accepted they had breached a court order and were in contempt.

The two judges heard that Insulate Britain had organised protests which disrupted and obstructed the M25 on several days in September.

A judge had subsequently made an order barring protesters from staging protests on the M25.

Further protests had taken place in October, Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson heard.

Protesters had made impassioned speeches seeking to justify forming human roadblocks.

The protesters said they were compelled to act to highlight Britain’s so-called “leaky homes”.

Rev Parfitt had asked: “Wasn’t it worth me sitting on the motorways to flag (our) message, and to interrupt people’s lives for an hour or so, in order to protect our children?”

Protesters were ordered to pick up National Highways legal bills of between £500 and £6,000.

Insulate Britain said that costs bill totalled £39,000.

Judges imposed the following prison terms:

Dr Diana Warner, 62, from Bristol, was given a two-month prison term.

Dr Ben Buse, 36, from Bristol, was given a 30-day term.

Insulate said Dr Buse had served 28 days of a four-month sentence, imposed after an earlier contempt allegation, and had been ordered to serve a further 30 days consecutively.

Seven others were given two-month suspended terms.

They were: Biff Whipster, 54, from Canterbury, Kent; Paul Sheeky, 46, from Warrington, Cheshire; Richard Ramsden, 75, from Halifax, West Yorkshire; Ruth Jarman, 58, from Hook, Hampshire; Steve Gower, 54, from Gloucester; Steven Pritchard, 62, from Radstock, Somerset; and Rev Parfitt.