Just Stop Oil protester jailed for six months for ‘peaceful’ march on London’s Brent Cross Flyover
Just Stop Oil says one of its supporters has received a “shock” six-month jail sentence for peacefully slow marching on a major London road.
Father-of-three Stephen Gingell was arrested alongside 40 others last month after blocking the road for about half an hour, according to the group.
Just Stop Oil said the 57-year-old pleaded guilty in November to breaching the Public Order Act and was sentenced on Thursday at a court in Manchester, where he lives.
Metropolitan Police did not comment on the sentence, but confirmed details of the arrests on 13 November and said the group was arrested after ignoring orders to disperse.
It said the protesters were causing a disruption to traffic on the Brent Cross Flyover, near the busy North Circular Road.
The police log states: “The protesters had been walking southbound on the A41.
“Suspects had been given a caution that if they do not remove themselves from the scene then they will be arrested. Failure to do so has led to their arrest.”
A statement from a group called Lawyers are Responsible – released by Just Stop Oil – said the sentence showed “the increasingly repressive environment that people find themselves in when they take entirely peaceful action to express concern about the climate and ecological crisis”.
Just Stop Oil – which wants to stop all future fossil fuel projects in the UK – has disrupted roads in London multiple times, as well as protesting at sports and theatre events.
Its latest stunt was on Thursday, when it turned up at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s home to sing climate-themed Christmas carols.
Met Police said officers attended but made no arrests after the protesters were moved on.
Rishi Sunak’s London home was also targeted by the group last month.