Climate activists escape jail over London Heathrow drone protest / Photo: Adrian DENNIS - AFP
Climate activists escape jail over London Heathrow drone protest
The co-founder of environmental pressure group Extinction Rebellion escaped jail on Friday for plotting to fly drones near London's Heathrow Airport in protest at expansion plans.
Roger Hallam and other protesters wanted to shut down the busy aviation hub to publicise their opposition to the construction of a third runway, their trial at a court in west London was told.
But police swooped to thwart the climate activists' plans, throwing up a sweeping security cordon and making several arrests.
Hallam, 57, was found guilty by a jury at Isleworth Crown Court of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after a four-week trial that ended in December.
Co-defendant Larch Maxey, 51, was convicted of the same charge, while a third protester, Michael Lynch-White, 33, pleaded guilty. A fourth protester was cleared.
Prosecutors said the trio did not want to cause a crash, harm or endanger the public but instead cause "chaos", with the aim of shutting Heathrow until the government reversed its backing for a third runway.
The defendants said they only wanted to attract publicity for their protest, which was motivated by concern about climate change and called Heathrow Pause.
Judge Martin Edwards said a small number of drones flown during the protest in September 2019 did not disrupt flights.
He sentenced Hallam and Maxey to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months. Lynch-White was given a 17-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.
All three were also ordered to carry out unpaid community work.
E.Colombo--IM
