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| Sheffield tree protester contempt case dismissed | Sheffield tree protester contempt case dismissed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A protester accused of breaching a High Court injunction banning people from taking action against tree felling in Sheffield has had his case dismissed. | A protester accused of breaching a High Court injunction banning people from taking action against tree felling in Sheffield has had his case dismissed. |
| Paul Brooke was accused of violating the order by entering the area around a tree due to be cut down. | Paul Brooke was accused of violating the order by entering the area around a tree due to be cut down. |
| He said he had only done so to protect a woman he thought was being assaulted. | He said he had only done so to protect a woman he thought was being assaulted. |
| While Mr Brooke was "mistaken" about the assault, Mr Justice Males ruled, his actions were "necessary in the light of the belief he held". | While Mr Brooke was "mistaken" about the assault, Mr Justice Males ruled, his actions were "necessary in the light of the belief he held". |
| Yorkshire breaking news: Barnsley murder victim named; Northern rail services hit by further strike action | |
| Mr Brooke was one of four people taken to court for allegedly breaching an injunction obtained by Sheffield City Council in 2017 to stop people from preventing tree felling. | Mr Brooke was one of four people taken to court for allegedly breaching an injunction obtained by Sheffield City Council in 2017 to stop people from preventing tree felling. |
| At a hearing earlier this month, the city's crown court heard Mr Brooke had entered a safety zone erected in Meersbrook Park Road on 22 January. | At a hearing earlier this month, the city's crown court heard Mr Brooke had entered a safety zone erected in Meersbrook Park Road on 22 January. |
| He admitted entering the zone but said he had done so "to go to the defence of a female protester who was being forcibly removed by security staff". | He admitted entering the zone but said he had done so "to go to the defence of a female protester who was being forcibly removed by security staff". |
| In his written ruling, Mr Justice Males said the "defence of another may provide a justification for entering a safety zone" in principle but "this decision is not a licence for future breaches". | In his written ruling, Mr Justice Males said the "defence of another may provide a justification for entering a safety zone" in principle but "this decision is not a licence for future breaches". |
| Thousands of trees have been felled in Sheffield as part of the council's 25-year £2bn Streets Ahead project. | Thousands of trees have been felled in Sheffield as part of the council's 25-year £2bn Streets Ahead project. |
| However, campaigners claim some of the trees cut down or earmarked for felling are healthy. | However, campaigners claim some of the trees cut down or earmarked for felling are healthy. |
| Tree felling work in the city has been on hold since January. | Tree felling work in the city has been on hold since January. |
| Mr Brooke said the court case had been "hugely stressful" but he would continue to protest against the felling of healthy trees. | Mr Brooke said the court case had been "hugely stressful" but he would continue to protest against the felling of healthy trees. |
| However, he added: "I certainly won't be breaching the injunction [in future]. It was never my intention to breach the injunction." | However, he added: "I certainly won't be breaching the injunction [in future]. It was never my intention to breach the injunction." |