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| Blackpool Cuadrilla anti-fracking protest: Three men jailed | Blackpool Cuadrilla anti-fracking protest: Three men jailed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three men have been jailed for causing a public nuisance during protests at a Lancashire fracking site. | Three men have been jailed for causing a public nuisance during protests at a Lancashire fracking site. |
| The men are believed to be the first anti-fracking protesters in the UK to be jailed. | |
| Simon Blevins, 26, and Richard Roberts, 36, were jailed for 16 months and Rich Loizou, 31, was jailed for 15 months. | Simon Blevins, 26, and Richard Roberts, 36, were jailed for 16 months and Rich Loizou, 31, was jailed for 15 months. |
| The three men climbed on lorries outside Cuadrilla's site at Preston New Road in July 2017, in a protest which lasted just short of 100 hours. | The three men climbed on lorries outside Cuadrilla's site at Preston New Road in July 2017, in a protest which lasted just short of 100 hours. |
| A fourth man, Julian Brock, 47, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. | A fourth man, Julian Brock, 47, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. |
| Blevins, from Sheffield, Loizou, from Devon, and Roberts, of London, were convicted of public nuisance by a jury at an earlier trial. | Blevins, from Sheffield, Loizou, from Devon, and Roberts, of London, were convicted of public nuisance by a jury at an earlier trial. |
| In sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Robert Latham said the protests "caused costs and disruption" to Cuadrilla "but their other victims were the many members of public who were nothing to do with Cuadrilla". | In sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Robert Latham said the protests "caused costs and disruption" to Cuadrilla "but their other victims were the many members of public who were nothing to do with Cuadrilla". |
| He expressed no view on fracking which was "not the business of the court". | He expressed no view on fracking which was "not the business of the court". |
| The judge also said it was "not a frivolous topic" and that environmental matters are to be taken seriously. | The judge also said it was "not a frivolous topic" and that environmental matters are to be taken seriously. |
| 'Justified' their actions | 'Justified' their actions |
| The sentences would have been "considerably longer" if they have not been committed against a background of protest, he continued. | The sentences would have been "considerably longer" if they have not been committed against a background of protest, he continued. |
| But he said he could not suspend the jail terms despite accepting the impact of incarceration and the good they did in the community. | But he said he could not suspend the jail terms despite accepting the impact of incarceration and the good they did in the community. |
| "I do find they provide a risk of re-offending," he said. | "I do find they provide a risk of re-offending," he said. |
| "Each of them remains motivated by unswerving confidence that they are right. Even at their trial they felt justified by their actions. | "Each of them remains motivated by unswerving confidence that they are right. Even at their trial they felt justified by their actions. |
| "Given the disruption caused in this case, only immediate custody can achieve sufficient punishment." | "Given the disruption caused in this case, only immediate custody can achieve sufficient punishment." |
| The Preston New Road site, in the parish of Westby-with-Plumptons, near Blackpool, has been the subject of continuing protests from local people and campaigners. | The Preston New Road site, in the parish of Westby-with-Plumptons, near Blackpool, has been the subject of continuing protests from local people and campaigners. |
| A trespassing ban was recently extended for two years. | A trespassing ban was recently extended for two years. |
| Cuadrilla said fracking would begin on the site in the next few weeks. | |
| Chief executive Francis Egan said the company had "respected the right to peaceful and lawful protest". | |
| But he added it would "condemn unlawful, irresponsible and reckless behaviour". | |
| "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," he said. | |
| Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said the protestors "deserve our gratitude, not a prison term". | 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," he said. | "It's a strange society that massively rewards those responsible for causing more climate change while putting those trying to stop it in jail," he said. |