Thread by @rachaelvenables

“I’m crapping myself this morning, and I feel like crying.”

Oliver is one of nine Insulate Britain activists at the High Court this morning for breaching injunctions by blocking motorways. He tells me he’s expecting a custodial sentence. @LBC

Nine Insulate Britain defendants are due before the High Court Judge this morning.

The hearing is booked to last three days but they have little legal representation, and tell me they will admit to breaching the injunction - so it could be over much sooner. @LBC

Hearing begun. Myriam Stacey QC representing National Highways.

The 9 Insulate Britain activists all took part in a protest on the M25 on the 8th October where they blocked J25 Waltham Cross. That was two weeks after the Injunction had been granted @LBC

https://twitter.com/rachaelvenables/status/1446385249827631144?s=20

@LBC Stacey is running the Judge through the many press releases put out by Insulate Britain since September, in which they openly acknowledged breaching the Injunctions

@LBC NEW: The Barrister for National Highways tells the High Court they are ready to bring "another round of committals" against more Insulate Britain protesters who breached Injunctions on 27th October. Looks like they're waiting to see how this case goes before serving those papers

@LBC That means more trials for Insulate Britain activists, and soon

@LBC Myriam Stacey QC says they "don’t dispute the fact that this is a civil disobedience case" and that has to be factored in during sentencing.

BUT she says "Right to protest is not licence to flout the law."

@LBC Prosecution have finished their opening argument #InsulateBritain

The Judge tells the nine that she has two factors to consider:

1. Did they breach the Injunction?
2. What the sanctions should be?

@LBC The lawyer representing one of the nine Insulate Britain defendants says custodial sentence should be a 'last resort' in protest cases like this - and that jail time should be kept as short as possible.

@LBC Insulate Britain's lawyer tries to defend their 'blue light policy' - saying they always keep one lane that can be cleared for an ambulance.

Judge refers to the Prosecutions defence that that wouldn't help a vehicle which was blocked further back in the jams they caused.

One of the defendants, 58y/o Ana Heyatawin, takes the stand to represent herself:

"I do not accept the morality of the injunction, because it is meaningless in the context of climate collapse.

"I am proud of what we did and I am proud of my actions."

2nd defendant calls the Injunction a childish & grotesque threat:

Tells the judge "If you do send me to prison, 10 more people will come forward to take my place.

"If you manage to stop all effective peaceful protest in Britain then unfortunately things will turn violent."

Ben Taylor, 27, tells the Judge” If you do not put me in prison I will go out to block the motorway at the earliest opportunity.”

“I do not regret my actions, they were proportional and entirely necessary.” #InsulateBritain

Judge has adjourned the Insulate Britain hearing until 10am tomorrow when the nine activists will be sentenced. They all accepted they had breached the M25 injunction.

Sentences for Contempt of Court can be a maximum 2 years in jail and an unlimited fine. @LBC

Back at the High Court this morning for the sentencing of nine Insulate Britain activists - for breach of an Injunction that banned them from protesting on the M25.

Sentencing starts at 10. @LBC

Breaking: Labour MP @johnmcdonnellMP offers his support for Insulate Britain’s right to ‘Direct Action.’ He hopes they don’t get jail time.

“If there hadn’t been protests we wouldn’t be taking climate change seriously.”

John McDonnell taking a different line to his party leader Sir Keir Starmer - who only on Monday condemned Insulate Britain’s “counter-productive tactics” on @LBC amp.lbc.co.uk/news/keir-star…

Tears before the Insulate Britain sentencing has even begun, as the Judge has reduced the numbers allowed in court. Yesterday 25 members of the public could sit in - today just 5. The nine defendants are begging to be allowed one person each in the room with them. @LBC

@LBC The Judge seems to have changed her mind, they're just allowed one member of family per defendant in the court room with them.

@LBC The prosecution is requesting £91,000 from the 9 Insulate Britain activists:

Emma Smart tells the Judge "I've spent the last three years voluntarily working in conversation and climate activism. You're claiming more for postage than I've earned from the past 3yrs." @LBC

@LBC National Highways lawyer tells the Judge a cost order for Contempt of Court must be "Proportionate, fair and reasonable." Says the fact that a defendant has "limited means, does not negate them" from having to pay. Says there is a 'deterrent element' in fining people...

@LBC Ben Taylor (who yesterday told the Judge he would go back block motorways again if she didn't jail him) says he would struggle to pay his ninth of the suggested fine.

"The last few years I’ve been volunteering and am on Universal Credit. £10 thousand is quite a lot of money."

@LBC Insulate Britain's legal team say the prosecution's legal costs are too high, because they admitted the breach last week and it was a rather simple case to prove. Temporary adjournment while the Judge makes up her mind... They haven't got to custodial issues yet.

@LBC Judge has come to a decision. Tells the Insulate Britain Nine that breach of the M25 Injunction was a "deliberate act of defiance to an order of the court."

Talks about the harm they caused.

Says they broke the social contract in a democratic society. @LBC

@LBC BREAKING: Nine Insulate Britain activists are being jailed immediately for breach of an Injunction, barring them from protesting on the M25. Most are getting four months in prison. Ben Taylor gets six months for telling the Judge he would block the motorway again. @LBC

@LBC Family and friends wave and shout 'Love you' towards the the Insulate Britain Nine, as they are taken down to the cells to begin their jail term for blocking the M25.

They chant "We are unstoppable. Another world is possible!" until stopped by the Judge.

In total

2 x Insulate Britain activists jailed for three months
6 receive four months
1 gets six months in jail - all sentences to begin immediately.

In sentencing the Judge said “Significant harm has been done. None of you have demonstrated significant contrition.” @LBC

REMEMBER yesterday the lawyer for National Highways told the court they had committal papers ready to serve on more Insulate Britain protesters “by the end of the week.” We can expect more hearings like this very soon

National Highways have welcomed the Insulate Britain verdict - they say they respect the right to protect but don’t support action that risks lives. @LBC