CAMPAIGNERS accused of conspiring to disrupt M1 traffic in South Yorkshire in protest at a motorway widening scheme have walked free from court after their case was thrown out.
Some of the seven Climate Camp activists punched the air and shouted "Get in" as the case against them was dismissed by Judge Graham Robinson at Sheffield Crown Court.
Sheffield protesters Julie White, aged 33, a GP of Sharrow Street, Sharrow; tree planter Oliver Brereton, 28, of Andover Street, Burngreave; photojournalist Robert Logan, 24, of Glossop Road, Broomhill; and cycling instructors Ruth Chiat, 29, of Holtwood Road, Pitsmoor, and Patrick Gillett, 24, of Dunscombe Street, Walkley, had all been due to stand trial alongside mental health nurse Ben Clements, 37, of Nottingham and circus performer Peta Minns, 25, of Chorley, Lancashire.
All denied a charge of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.
It was alleged they planned to unfurl three banners over the M1 and chain themselves to construction machinery on April 16 last year to disrupt roadworks, putting lives at risk.
But Judge Robinson said there was "not a jot" of evidence to suggest the protesters intended to endanger lives.
Dr White said afterwards: "We are obviously delighted and relieved, but we think it is disgusting the police have put us through a year of anxiety.
"We are angry about the injustice and the misuse of the law. We were stopped before we got to the bridge and, had this case proceeded, it would have set a dangerous precedent for civil liberties."
Instead the campaigners said the judge's ruling set a new precedent for the policing of environmental demonstrations - and said they plan to attend a Camp for Climate Action in Kent this August.
A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said afterwards: "We accept the court's findings but we are satisfied we took the correct action.
"Our aim was to ensure the safety of all those that might have been affected in what was a potentially hazardous environment. There was a risk, not only to those working on the motorway but also to motorists and the protesters themselves."
READ MOREMain news indexLatest sport.Readers' LettersHolidays and TravelCheck out the very latest on South Yorkshire's roads - including live traffic cameras on Sheffield's commuter routes - with our Traffic sectionThe full article contains 386 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
