Protesters glue themselves to court steps
Four Insulate Britain protesters glued themselves to steps of the High Court as they and 15 other climate activists face jail for ignoring an injunction.
Theresa Norton, 63, Dr Diana Warner, 62, Ellie Litten 35, and Steve Pritchard 62, were due to hear the outcome of their cases – but attached themselves to the pavement outside instead.
They sent a note that said: ‘We don’t want to co-operate with the system that is causing so much death and hardship.’
The protesters defied a series of High Court injunctions were granted to National Highways and Transport for London to prevent their protests.
Gabriella Ditton, 28, addressed the court emotionally this afternoon, telling Lord Justice William Davis she was ‘ashamed’ that she was not outside with her fellow activists.
She said her mother has terminal brain cancer and ‘that’s the thing that’s stopping me from being outside with those people.
‘I am not scared to go to prison. I am a lot more frightened about what happens if we don’t act on this issue.
‘But I’m absolutely terrified about my mum dying while I’m in prison and I’m ashamed of that cowardice.’
She said: ‘We’ve been lied to so much by people in power. Even so recently they’ve demonstrated that the rules do not apply to them.’
‘I cannot show remorse because I do not regret my action.
‘I regret that cases like these are clogging up the judicial system that is already stretched.
‘The purpose of the injunction is to allow people to go about their daily business.
‘I think people have a right to go about their daily business and I’m trying to protect that for years to come.
‘I think you understand that we come from a place of love.
‘My motivation for any of this stuff comes from wanting to have a baby myself.
‘In my heart I know it’s wrong to subject a human to that level of suffering.
‘I know what the future looks like for them if we don’t do anything.
‘These people are fighting the hardest for all of our children and I cannot understand how sending us to prison makes sense in any way.’
Ditton told the court she has no more plans to breach the injunction.
‘I’m really sorry for being emotional,’ she added, after finishing her speech.
Lord Justice William Davis replied: ‘I don’t suppose you come to the High Court every day of the week.’
Representations were made for Dr Diana Warner via her counsel, barrister Owen Greenhall.
Ben Taylor, 27, represented himself in court, saying that his ‘intention was to break the injunction’ because ‘people are suffering and dying’.
Biff Whipster, 54, also made representations for himself.
This morning, three other Insulate Britain protesters were ‘dismissed’ following lengthy debate about whether the roundabout they protested on counted as part of the M25.
Jessica Causby, 25, Liam Norton, 37, and Arne Springorum 49, were found not to be in contempt of court during a protest at South Mimms roundabout on 2 November 2021.
The demonstration was intended to block the M25 near Junction 23 at Bignells Corner, Potters Bar, but Lord Justice William Davis decided that area was not covered by the M25 injunction.
He said: ‘The application in their cases has been dismissed so there’s no further reference to them in these proceedings.’
The full list of the 19 is Arne Springorum, 49, Ben Taylor, 27, Ben Buse, 36, Biff Whipster, 54, David Nixon, 35, Diana Warner, 62, Ellie Litten, 35, Gabriella Ditton, 28, and Indigo Rumbelow, 27.
Jessica Causby, 25, Liam Norton, 37, Paul Sheeky, 46, Ruth Jarman, 58, Stephanie Aylett, 27, Stephen Gower, 55, Stephen Pritchard, 62, Reverend Sue Parfitt, 79, Theresa Norton, 63, and Christian Rowe, 24.
The total number of people charged with contempt of court due the protests now stands at 27 – with ten of the defendants facing court for the first time with Insulate Britain, and eight returning for a second time.
The hearing continues.
ends
