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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Just Stop Oil: Climate change pair found guilty over Dartford Crossing protest | Just Stop Oil: Climate change pair found guilty over Dartford Crossing protest |
| (5 months later) | |
| Protesters climbed the Queen Elizabeth II bridge in Dartford which saw traffic being stopped by police | Protesters climbed the Queen Elizabeth II bridge in Dartford which saw traffic being stopped by police |
| Two protesters who scaled the Dartford Crossing bridge have been found guilty of causing a public nuisance. | Two protesters who scaled the Dartford Crossing bridge have been found guilty of causing a public nuisance. |
| Just Stop Oil activists Morgan Trowland, 40, of Islington, London, and Marcus Decker, 34, of no fixed address, claimed it was a peaceful protest. | Just Stop Oil activists Morgan Trowland, 40, of Islington, London, and Marcus Decker, 34, of no fixed address, claimed it was a peaceful protest. |
| The trial at Basildon Crown Court heard they scaled to a height of 200ft (60m) on the bridge's cables in October last year. | The trial at Basildon Crown Court heard they scaled to a height of 200ft (60m) on the bridge's cables in October last year. |
| They are due to be sentenced at the same court on 13 April. | They are due to be sentenced at the same court on 13 April. |
| The crossing linking the M25 over the River Thames between Essex and Kent was closed from 04:00 BST on 17 October until 21:00 the following day. | The crossing linking the M25 over the River Thames between Essex and Kent was closed from 04:00 BST on 17 October until 21:00 the following day. |
| During the trial jurors heard that after scaling the bridge cables they unfurled a Just Stop Oil banned and rigged up hammocks. | During the trial jurors heard that after scaling the bridge cables they unfurled a Just Stop Oil banned and rigged up hammocks. |
| Prosecutor Adam King told the trial the pair had deliberately tried to cause disruption. | Prosecutor Adam King told the trial the pair had deliberately tried to cause disruption. |
| He said their actions "caused gridlock for miles around throughout that period, which we say was the point." | He said their actions "caused gridlock for miles around throughout that period, which we say was the point." |
| Trowland said he and Decker had climbed the bridge to unfurl a banner | Trowland said he and Decker had climbed the bridge to unfurl a banner |
| Mr King told jurors: "We're not here to litigate the government's climate change policy." | Mr King told jurors: "We're not here to litigate the government's climate change policy." |
| Trowland had said in evidence: "We climbed it [the bridge] to deliver a warning message, to put up a banner saying Just Stop Oil and to speak that message through interviews with journalists." | Trowland had said in evidence: "We climbed it [the bridge] to deliver a warning message, to put up a banner saying Just Stop Oil and to speak that message through interviews with journalists." |
| He said the activist group's goal was to get the government to stop licensing oil and gas production. | He said the activist group's goal was to get the government to stop licensing oil and gas production. |
| Judge Shane Collery KC remanded them in custody ahead of sentencing and said custodial sentences were being considered. | Judge Shane Collery KC remanded them in custody ahead of sentencing and said custodial sentences were being considered. |
| He said: "We're dealing with significant nuisance that's been caused." | He said: "We're dealing with significant nuisance that's been caused." |
| The pair have spent more than five months in custody, having been remanded at their first appearance at Southend Magistrates' Court on 20 October and face a maximum of 10 years in prison. | The pair have spent more than five months in custody, having been remanded at their first appearance at Southend Magistrates' Court on 20 October and face a maximum of 10 years in prison. |
| Sean Irish, of Just Stop Oil, said outside court: "Just Stop Oil will not stop because of a crackdown. | Sean Irish, of Just Stop Oil, said outside court: "Just Stop Oil will not stop because of a crackdown. |
| "The climate crisis is more terrifying than 10 years in a British cell." | "The climate crisis is more terrifying than 10 years in a British cell." |
| He said the verdicts were "quite disappointing". | He said the verdicts were "quite disappointing". |
| Essex Police said that those impacted by the traffic disruption included a "heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help". | Essex Police said that those impacted by the traffic disruption included a "heavily pregnant woman who needed urgent medical help". |
| Another person missed the funeral of their best friend of 35 years, the force said, and a business lost more than £160,000 in earnings. | Another person missed the funeral of their best friend of 35 years, the force said, and a business lost more than £160,000 in earnings. |
| Ch Supt Simon Anslow, who led the force's response to the incident, said: "The actions of Trowland and Decker were incredibly dangerous; for themselves, for the officers who were tasked with dealing with them and for the many, many people whose lives were disrupted as a result." | Ch Supt Simon Anslow, who led the force's response to the incident, said: "The actions of Trowland and Decker were incredibly dangerous; for themselves, for the officers who were tasked with dealing with them and for the many, many people whose lives were disrupted as a result." |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Dartford | Dartford |
| M25 motorway | M25 motorway |
| Climate | |
| Just Stop Oil | Just Stop Oil |