A 64-year-old woman has become the first person convicted of participating in a wave of protests at fuel sites organized by the Just Stop Oil activist group.
Catherine McLean was accused of aggravating illegal entry following an incident at an oil terminal in Thurrock last Wednesday.
McLean of Hassox, West Sussex, was ordered to pay £ 409 in fines and costs after admitting the crime to the Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Essex police said.
Just Stop Oil launched a series of blockades of fuel terminals in the South East of England and the Midlands on April 1 in an attempt to force the government to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Protests in Essex on April 13 focused on the Purfleet oil terminal, between the Gray terminal and the Turquoise navigator terminal.
The group said it hoped the blockades “would significantly affect the availability of fuel at petrol stations in the Southeast.”
“You will be arrested”
Assistant Chief of Staff Rachel Nolan said: “Unfortunately, Mrs McLean’s actions mean she already has a criminal record.
No one – at least all my officers – wants to see this happen, but it is a timely reminder that if you come to Essex to commit a crime, even though you may see it as a protest, you will be arrested, be charged and this is likely to result in a criminal conviction.
“We are not anti-protest in any way. Individuals have a protected right to protest, but unfortunately these incidents have turned into crime and we had no choice but to act and seek permission from the Royal Prosecutor’s Office to bring charges against the people.
Two other activists – James Skeet, 34, of Drayton Street, Manchester, and Stephanie Islet, 27, of High Oaks, St. Albans – appeared with McLean at Saturday’s hearing.
Both have been charged with aggravated breach and breach of bail conditions, Essex police said, and have been remanded in custody and will reappear in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court next week.
So far, 23 people have been charged in connection with the riots around Thurrock since early April, Essex police said, making 461 arrests.
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