16th April 2014

The first appeal of an anti-fracking campaigner convicted after last year’s Balcombe protests has been adjourned because a police officer due to give evidence was ill.

Keyon Bayandor, 25, of Bristol, was found guilty at Brighton Magistrates Court on January 30^th . It was alleged he obstructed PC Michael Butler on August 1st last year during a police escort of a truck into Cuadrilla’s oil exploration site.

Mr Bayandor’s appeal at Lewes Crown Court was scheduled for today in front of Judge Scott-Gall and two magistrates. But one of the key witnesses, PC Miriam Smith, was unable to attend.

Jonathan Atkinson, for the crown, said he was willing to go ahead without PC Smith. Stephen Knight, for Mr Bayandor, said PC Smith’s evidence could be supportive to the defence case and he wished to cross-examine her. Judge Scott-Gall adjourned the appeal until 18^th July.