Activists Who Caused £100,000 Worth of Damage Sentenced

Published on: 1 Nov, 2023
Updated on: 3 Nov, 2023

A group of activists belonging to the protest group Just Stop Oil, who caused £100,000 worth of damage to a service station on the M25, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (October 27).

Cobham Services, M25. Google Maps

Police were called at around 7am on Thursday, April 28, 2022, to Cobham Service Station following reports of 16 activists on the forecourt.

See: 35 Arrests Following Protests at M25 Service Stations

When officers arrived, one activist had glued himself to the top of a fuel tanker and others had glued themselves to the tarmac to block traffic entering. Sixteen people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and aggravated trespass.

Due to the damage caused, which included every pump being smashed, the petrol station had to be closed for two days.

As one of the biggest service stations in the UK, this caused significant disruption to staff and users of the M25. The total cost of the damage caused and loss of sales was estimated to be approximately £100,000.

Since their arrests, six activists have been found guilty of obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in lawful activity and were issued fines from Guildford Magistrate court. Two have been found not guilty, one has had the charges dropped and one passed away before the trial.

The filling station at Cobham Services, the scene of a Just Stop Oil protest. Google Street View

The remaining six people were sentenced on Friday (October 27) at Lewes Crown court:

• Sean Jordan, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to eight and a half months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
•  Bethany Mogie, from St Albans, Herts, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Stephanie Golder, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Louis McKechnie, from Weymouth, Dorset, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to 17 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Louise Harris, from Caddington, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to eight and a half months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
• Peter Lay, from Waterlooville, Hants, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and aggravated trespass and was sentenced to eight and a half months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours of unpaid work.

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