After the sentencing at Preston Crown Court, family members of the men sent to prison read statements. Photo: DrillOrDrop 26/9/2018
Opponents of fracking sat in silence at Preston Crown Court this morning as his honour Judge Robert Altham sent three men to jail for taking part in a lorry protest lasting nearly 100 hours outside Cuadrilla’s shale gas site.
Simon Blevins and Richard Roberts were sentenced for 16 months and Rich Loizou to 15 months for climbing onto lorries delivering to the site near Blackpool. They had denied causing a public nuisance but were found guilty at a jury trial last month. They will serve half the sentence in prison and the rest on licence. It is understood they are considering appeal against the severity of the sentence.
Julian Brock, the fourth man who took part in the protest, was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months. He had pleaded guilty to public nuisance.
The sentencing hearing, which began yesterday, heard that they climbed on to the cabs of four lorries in a convoy bound for the Preston New Road site. They stayed on the lorries for at total of 99.5 hours. DrillOrDrop report on the sentencing hearing
Outside the court, campaigners, several in tears, said they were devastated by the prison sentences.
Rosalind Blevins, mother of Simon Blevins, said:
“My son and the others were working under a social conscience for the good of the planet. I am proud of them for standing up against climate change.
“There is no doubt about climate change. 98% of scientists agree that climate chaos is happening.
“We have all got to stand up and reduce our use of fossil fuels now.
“I do not believe that a custodial sentence is in the benefit of society.”
Simon Blevins’ supporters released a statement of his reaction to the sentence:
“This won’t break us, we will come out stronger.
“Some may view us as victims, but we refuse to be victimised by this. The real victims will be future generations suffering preventable disasters caused by climate change.
“Our friends and fellow campaigners outside will continue to fight for a ban on fracking and for a just transition to a renewable and democratically owned energy system”.
Michelle Easton, partner of Richard Roberts, said:
“We are absolutely devastated but this is nothing we are not used to.
“As a protest community we have been let down again and again by democracy.
“It is a huge shock and this is a huge sadness. But it is not something we are surprised about. If our loved ones are going to be locked up we will make sure it worthwhile.”
Taryn, the partner of Richard Loizou, read a statement on his behalf:
“My views on fracking have not been changed.
“I was there to support and care for people. I regret that I caused upset to residents living near the Preston New Road site.
“My work with children and young people gave me no choice but to disturb Cuadrilla’s actions.”
Miranda Cox, a campaigner against Cuadrilla’s operations in Lancashire and a member of Kirkham Town council said after the sentencing:
“This is an unprecedented case: that they were found guilty of public nuisance and that the sentences they have received are draconian and disproportionate.
“This is a very dark day for British justice and for democracy.
“They came to Preston New Road to support us against an industry that could devastate our countryside.”
Asked how anti-fracking campaigners would respond to the sentences, she said:
“I think it will galvanise us. We have been through every process available to us. It will make us more resolute.”
Barbara Richardson, who lives near the Preston New Road site, praised the men’s protest:
“As a community facing fracking on our doorstep, it is a very sad day when peaceful protesters can be sent to prison for trying to protect people and our planet from serious harm by this damaging fossil fuel industry. In our opinion these men are heroes who stood up for what they believe in and now face the serious consequences with bravery and dignity.”
Rich Loizou, Richard Roberts and Simon Roscoe Blevin (front left to right) with supporters outside Preston Law Courts before the sentencing hearing. Photo: DrillOrDrop, 25 September 2018
There have been almost daily protests in Preston New Road since Cuadrilla began work in January 2017.
Since then, there have been about 350 arrests for protest activity. But until now, people who were found guilty had received conditional discharges, fines or community service.
The lorry protest, from 25-28 July 2017, led to travel disruption around the Preston New Road site. The court heard how at times there were tail-backs of traffic and disturbance to bus services.
Francis Egan, chief executive of Cuadrilla, said in a statement:
“We have always respected the right to peaceful and lawful protest. However we will continue to condemn unlawful, irresponsible and reckless behaviour that at best inconveniences and costs law abiding local business and commuters and at worst puts them at risk of harm. It is, in our view, a shame that it has come to this but the Crown Court has today taken the correct decision in imposing custodial sentences.”
A spokesperson for the pro-fracking group, Lancashire for Shale, said:
“The hold-ups on the busy A583 caused by anti-fracking activists last summer will no doubt have had a negative impact on the local tourism sector and the businesses situated along and near Preston New Road – especially those whose customers would have been put off from visiting them, leading to a drop in takings.
“It’s one thing to have strong views about fracking and to want to express them, but it’s another thing altogether when that crosses the line into unlawful behaviour that affects ordinary people. The offences committed by these activists are far from victimless crimes and it’s good to see this recognised by the courts.”
But a campaigner, who attended the trial, said:
“The government has been saying we need to tackle climate change but when three people try to do that they are sent to prison because there ws a traffic jam.”
People travelled from across Britain to attend the hearing and hundreds of others sent messages of support.
Tina Lynam, a parent of a child taught by Rich Loizou, travelled from Devon. She said:
“Richard has taught my son for the last two years and is an inspirational mentor and beautiful soul. We are shocked and deeply upset by what is happening here, and felt compelled to come and offer our support today.”
Anti-fracking slogan on a bridge on the M61 motorway. Photo: Used with the owner’s consent
Greenpeace UK executive director, John Sauven, said the protestors “deserve our gratitude, not a prison term”.
“It’s a strange society that massively rewards those responsible for causing more climate change while putting those trying to stop it in jail.”
Dave Timms, head of political affairs at Friends of the Earth, said:
“This historic sentencing is disproportionate and harsh. Our thoughts are with these protesters who acted out of conscience to protect the planet.”
Wenonah Hauter, executive director and founder of Food & Water Watch and Food & Water Europe, said in a statement:
“This decision undermines basic democratic rights to protest and defend communities in the UK.
“Fracking companies are facing sustained protests for a reason. The public knows the dangers fracking poses to our clean air and water, and that’s why activists in England are taking bold action to protect their communities against these threats.
“Companies like Ineos and Cuadrilla would like to stifle this movement, and unfortunately this Court decision produces a dangerous precedent to threaten those advocating for a healthy climate and a livable world. However, if these companies think a court decision will stop the movement to protect our water, climate and communities from fracking, they are in for a surprise.”
The Green Party MEP, Keith Taylor, who has campaigned against the onshore oil and gas industry in south east England, said:
“The frack free four are heroes. These people put their lives on hold to defend our environment and climate from the destruction imposed on it by a government blindly committed to fracking at any costs. The latest cost being the liberty of three peaceful protesters whose only crime is resorting to peaceful direct action to resist an industry after every democratic route of opposition was ignored and overturned by the government. The people of Lancashire and their democratically elected representatives repeatedly said no to fracking.
“It has been almost a hundred years since Britain jailed its last environmental campaigners. Since then, the theory goes, we have developed into a mature liberal democracy that can accommodate dissent. Today’s decision blows that myth wide-open; authoritarianism has become a favourite tool of a minority government that lacks the public’s support to force through its environmentally destructive agenda by any other means. Any government that conspires with the dirty fossil fuel industry against its own people is rotten to the core.
“Dissent is not a crime in any country with a political system fit to be called a democracy. Consequently, the sentences handed to the frack-free four are chilling.”
Campaigners have set up a petition to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights calling for a thematic inquiry into the declining space for civil society to effectively oppose the fracking industry in the UK. Link to petition
Reports from hearing on 25 September 2018
Defence submissions: Anti-fracking campaigners wait to find out if they face jail for lorry protest
Campaigners support four anti-fracking protesters at lorry-surf sentencing
Reporting from this hearing has been made possible by the donations of individual DrillOrDrop readers
Categories: Legal
DRILL OR DROP? 
What a sad and terrible state our country is in – so much for democracy then, something we used to be able to be proud of. Shocked more than I can find words for at these totally disproportionate sentences – anyone care to research on whether Judge Robert Altham has shares in fracking companies?!
In the words of one campaigner – “The government has been saying we need to tackle climate change but when three people try to do that, they are sent to prison because there was a traffic jam.”
What is undemocratic about law breakers going to prison? Do laws not apply to anti fracking protestors? Do you operate under a different Judiciary?
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Excellent news, a huge victory for everyone, could and should have been longer, but this is a great outcome.
the judge has made the worst ever judgement, we see who he works for and its not justice, shame on him. and what he has done to English law.
These people really do live in little bubbles don’t they? I bets they all bought that stupid statement that Labour could create 400k jobs in green energy 😂😂, what a lot of baloney.
If you want to fight climate change then head off to a country such as India, China, USA, and if that’s too far a trek then try Poland where you’ll find plenty of coal being used. I’m sure I could get a crowdfund sorted for one way tickets for the lot of you.
Gas boilers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon and do you lot even know how electricity is produced?
Its not from the activity between your braincells that’s for sure.
Where is the moderator in this reply ??? Mr seaman
GottaBKidding…. you are really kidding mate. Poland? Germany is using at least twice what Poland is using!
And you forgot about history. Poland was abandoned after 2WW and for 50years on Russian mercy. They were treating Poland as resource country. From factories you had whole train loaded and send back to Russia… Germany at that time was using freedom and western monies to be rebuild whole country.
Tom oh I know all about German energy consumption but I didn’t want to mention it as the antis have this false perception it’s a green energy country and I can’t be bothered explaining it all to them yet again!
‘If you want to fight climate change then head off to a country such as India, China, USA’
http://www.refracktion.com/index.php/shale-gas-take-away-anyone/
Poland tried fracking. Loads of hype. No gas.
https://emerging-europe.com/news/the-end-of-polands-shale-gas-eldorado/
No good in the Netherlands either
https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/02/dutch-minister-confirms-ban-on-drilling-shale-gas-not-an-option/
Remind me again. Who is trying to operate in Poland and the Netherlands.
That’s right. Cuadrilla.
European shale.
Doomed
UK – the Fylde – definitely some shale gas, it has already been produced at Preese Hall. How much we will find out in the next couple of months. Perhaps between 2 and 10 TCF recoverable. Economics – we will see.
John – is this one of the reports you keep linking to?
Click to access potential-bowland-basin-shale-gas-development.pdf
2011 estimates by the US Department of Energy in 2011 pegged out Polish shale reserves as the largest in Europe.[85] The authors of the report calculated that Poland had reserves of about 22.45 trillion cubic meters of shale gas, of which 5.30 trillion cubic meters was recoverable.
How much commercial shale gas has been produced in Poland to date?
How much commercial shale gas has Cuadrilla Poland produced to date?
Please post figures and references.
Lots of shale in the Netherlands. Cuadrilla getting any?
I don’t think so
https://www.schaliegasvrij.nl/
I see this is something personal with Cuadrilla John? Perhaps you will feel better about it if INEOS or Range take over development in the event these two wells are successful?
The evidence points quite clearly…..
A non starter industry pummelled by well organised communities, conceived through hype and misinformation, and a total financial disaster.
European shale is doomed.
Zero John in Poland, or at least not much, too much CO2 in the better wells. Please explain to us all the relevance of Poland to the Fylde? Do you understand the basics of oil and gas exploration? It would appear not. But perhaps you are learning?
All you have to do is wait a couple of months and you we will know if you are correct or not. No big deal. It doesn’t matter how much you post, the geology remains the same and Cuadrilla get closer to determining if this venture fails or is successful.
‘All you have to do is wait a couple of months and you we will know if you are correct or not’
Actually no
As investors well know you need to flow test for many months to see how the decline curve plays out. Added to that the energy experts state you would need many wells to get a reasonable idea of viability.
The way it’s going that would be many years away. A new unnecessary fossil fuel industry burning through investors money can’t wait that long.
You will know if it is clearly none commercial very quickly.
Well organised community? Perhaps but three are off to prison today.
Great news .Should have been fined to .Hit them in their pockets where it Hurts .And if can,t pay make their family’s pay .Wasting police resources tax payers money .Bet they on the dole too
On the dole? One a teacher. One a piano restorer and one a soil analyst.
{Edited by moderator] Same old faces that are obviously industry mouthpieces . [edited by moderator]
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Obviously you don’t bother to read Slade , these were working people , using unfounded accusations make you look more of a ( edited for moderator )
And you Jono [edited by moderator] Like gottabekidding said go to India and save the planet there Instead of support wasting tax payers money police resources to police these protestors Big fines next time judge .Please
âAs a protest community we have been let down again and again by democracy.â
Calling themselves âa protest communityâ says it all. No sympathy here for law-breakers.
Look’s like the judge had made a scapegoat out of these three. Well done Julian for getting a suspended sentence at least you had the sense to go guilty. Bad ‘legal’ advice to the others by the looks of it. I had so much evidence in writing that could have worked for them all but I was never called as a witness? So much evidence in writing that could and should have been used and acted upon by the courts and law. I will say to the judge only once…remember that the ‘laws of the forest’ were written for a reason, to be observed by man, for man. You may wish to be part of this industry and only time will tell what devastation it will bring to the area of Lancashire. No doubt we’ll see the industry in the courts if the pad fails.
Hi dawncoded,
Well said and it won’t just be the fracking company in Court when the fracking process goes wrong, causing harm and contamination! There’s also the politicians who forced it upon us and the regulators who are supposed to keep us safe by their Gold Standard Monitoring!
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