Mon. Sep 9th, 2024
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JUST Stop Oil activists who defied a court injunction when they caused major disruption on the M25 were spared jail yesterday.

Theresa Norton, 65, and Mair Bain, 36, joined ten others last November.

Theresa Norton, 65, far right, and Mair Bain, 36, centre, joined ten other activists defying an injunction last November, but were let off jail by the judge1

Theresa Norton, 65, far right, and Mair Bain, 36, centre, joined ten other activists defying an injunction last November, but were let off jail by the judgeCredit: PA

Mr Justice Soole told London’s High Court that both had crossed the custody threshold.

Bain got a 40-day jail term suspended for two years. Norton got an 80-day sentence, also suspended for two years.

The judge decided not to impose any penalty against the other ten also found in contempt.

They included Bristol gran Gaie Delap, 76, who climbed an M25 gantry.

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Mr Justice Soole found that she and nine of the others had not been made aware of the injunction by a JSO organiser prior to the protest.

The judge described the omission as a “significant failure and breach of trust.”

Meanwhile, 62 JSO activists were arrested for a slow march at Westminster Square yesterday.

For the first time police used laws which prohibit interfering with key national infrastructure.

Section seven of the Public Order Act of 2023, now treats main roads as part of the national infrastructure and makes it an offence to disproportionately interfere with them.

JSO protestors were stunned as cops handcuffed them and bundled them all into police vans within 31 minutes of launching their protest.

A source said: “It is the first time the legislation has been used and it worked brilliantly.”

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