Five activists from Just Stop Oil, including co-founder Roger Hallam, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in orchestrating protests that blocked the M25 motorway, causing significant disruption. Hallam received a five-year sentence, while four others—Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin—each received four-year sentences.
The protests in November 2022 involved activists climbing onto motorway gantries over four consecutive days, leading to over 50,000 hours of vehicle delays and affecting more than 700,000 vehicles. Prosecutors highlighted the economic impact, with costs exceeding £765,000 and additional expenses of over £1.1 million for the Metropolitan Police.
Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC detailed the extensive planning behind the protests, including a Zoom call on November 2, 2022, where the defendants discussed their strategies. A Sun newspaper journalist infiltrated the call, recording the discussions and providing crucial evidence to the police.
Judge Christopher Hehir cited the Zoom call as "compelling evidence" of the conspiracy, noting the sophisticated and intricately planned nature of the disruption. The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Following their sentencing, the activists, dubbed the Whole Truth Five by Just Stop Oil on social media, affirmed their names in court and expressed solidarity with each other, shouting "We love you" from the dock.
