John Tootill with Green Party co-leader, Caroline Lucas, outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road, 18 September 2017. Photo: Refracktion
A businessman and leading campaigner against Cuadrilla’s fracking operation near Blackpool has been cleared by a court of obstruction.
John Tootill, who runs Maple Farm Nurseries near Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road site, said he was now considering legal action against Lancashire Police.
Mr Tootill was found not guilty by magistrates in Blackpool this afternoon of obstructing a police officer during anti-fracking protests on 1 June 2017. He had denied the offence.
This was the second time Mr Tootill had been arrested near the shale gas site. On the first occasion, on 8 March 2017, he was held in police custody for about 11 hours after being arrested for obstructing the highway. That case against him was dropped before it came to court.
Mr Tootill told DrillOrDrop:
“I will be taking advice about bringing a case against the police for unlawful arrest and false imprisonment
“This is the second time I have been arrested and falsely imprisoned. I believe it has happened to other people on numerous occasions. It seems to be a tactic of dissuading protesters from protesting and exercising their legal rights.”
He added:
“I have obviously suffered from the association of being arrested for criminal offences. The fact that I’ve been vindicated is a wonderful outcome. But if any person hears of someone arrested their view is going to be affected. I’ve suffered the indignities associated with that.”
Signs outside Mr Tootill’s Maple Farm Nursery on Preston New Road. Photo: DrillOrDrop
Mr Tootill’s opposition to Cuadrillla’s operations is obvious from the eye-catching signs outside his nursery and the facilities he offers at Maple Farm to anti-fracking campaign groups.
In 2016, Fylde Borough Council sought to prosecute Mr Tootill for the anti-fracking signs at Maple Farm. It brought 26 charges of unauthorised advertising against him but later dropped the case before it came to court. The council said the prosecution was not in the public interest after fire had destroyed Mr Tootill’s home in Westby.
Mr Tootill said:
“I am a local businessman and I am very openly showing my opposition to the industry.
“All the time, as many police officers would verify, I am also the face of moderation. I encourage good behaviour. It is so disappointing, in spite of this, that the police are still behaving so badly.”
He said he was very relieved at the verdict.
“There is a lot of trauma involved. I was always confident common sense would prevail. But I was fearful of bias against me.
“You know you’ve not done anything wrong. You’ve got your inner confidence but, because of the things you’ve experienced and heard about, it does cause concern.”
Asked if his experience would change his opposition to fracking, Mr Tootill said:
“None whatsoever. If nothing else, it does strengthen your resolve to combat this industry and the influence that it has on democracy.”
Categories: Legal
DRILL OR DROP? 
John is a man of great integrity and stamina. The last few months must have been extremely unpleasant for him and I am delighted to see that he has been vindicated.
The police really should not be surprised if this now results in a case against them.
I somehow doubt we will be seeing a double page spread in the Fail on Sunday though. Funny old world isn’t it?
We are 100% with you Mr Tootil.
‘In 2016, Fylde Borough Council sought to prosecute Mr Tootill for the anti-fracking signs at Maple Farm. It brought 26 charges of unauthorised advertising against him but later dropped the case before it came to court. The council said the prosecution was not in the public interest after fire had destroyed Mr Tootill’s home in Westby.”
In addition, the question I would ask is, who set fire to Mr Toothills home in Westby?
Also, since when is a protest sign advertising? Isn’t protest entirely the exact opposite to advertising?
Don’t walk on the grass??? Advertising???
Could we not say that road signs are also unauthorised advertising?
Police station signs and individual service number tags? Advertising?
Could we also say that a sign identifying a fracking site corporate ownership also unauthorised advertising?
A house number and street name sign, is that also unauthorised advertising?
Oh I can see that there is loads of fun to be had with this?
What sort of lunatic thought up that little wheeze?
This countries official bodies need a damn good kick in the……..bullwarks?
Fantastic news.
All the more reason to make sure these protectors are prosecuted and brought to justice when they break the law. It is important to get convictions, and hopefully the courts begin to understand that a slap on the wrist will not suffice.
Peeny we are not in your Trumpland here 🙂
Refresh my memory. Did not some actually admit publically on-line to knowing the identities of those that stole Anti-Fracking signs from local residents gardens? Did the Police ever take action(s) against the individual(s) concerned?
[Edited by moderator] I have screenshots that show this yes – he found it most amusing it seems – I think the parable if the note and the beam might be relevant here?
Great to hear the predictable, just outcome.
Hopefully all legal fees to be paid back to John, though at more taxpayers expense.
Perhaps now is a prudent time for the Crime Prosecution Service /Lancashire Constabulary to compile and release the statistics of arrests, dropped charges and convictions entailing from their year of supposedly primarily protecting the public at Preston New Road.
Yes, I hope he gets his money back and compensation for wasted time. It’s a a travesty that the taxpayer’s money and court time is being wasted by the corporate induced leadership.
I imagine in time there will be an ‘inquiry’ into all this, but not, of course, until those who are part of the corporate control have passed on to whatever afterlife they have chosen. It’s tragic that homeless people and older folk are suffering from lack of support and services help due to funds being diverted, which are being used to finance this farce. Shame on them.
Brilliant result and unfortunately this shows just how much the police have got things wrong in some of their actions at PNR. Very pleased for John who is a real gentleman.
So pleased to hear this result…time the police were brought to account for their behaviour.
Reblogged this on keepeastlancashirefrackfreekelff.
Our rights to peaceful protest are being eroded in a clandestine and sinister way. Some are arrested and de-arrested within 20 minutes, some are arrested taken to Police Stations and sent home and some are sent home from Court free. The cost is ridiculous, money which will be needed to clear up the mess the oil and gas industry are making of our environment. Meanwhile some security guards, some police and some private investors are breaking the law intentionally doing harm to protectors and are never arrested or charged, perverse justice.
It would seem there is a definite police agenda both in Lancashire and Yorkshire to target certain individuals, while intimidating everyone else to try and frighten them enough to stop them protesting, However
this clearly isn’t working, we must stand up for our right to peaceful protest no matter what the police do to us.