Just Stop Oil protesters jailed over plot to cause ‘misery for thousands’ at UK airport.uk
Margaret Reid, Leonorah Ward, Indigo Rumbelow and Daniel Knorr were caged for collective seven years and four months.
Margaret Reid, Leonorah Ward, Indigo Rumbelow and Daniel Knorr (Image: GMP )
A foursome of Just Stop Oil zealots have been jailed for a collective total of seven years and four months for a plot to target a major UK airport, potentially causing “misery to thousands of people”. Armed with bolt cutters, angle grinders, glue, and sand, Daniel Knorr, 22, Leonorah Ward, 22, Indigo Rumbelow, 30, and Margaret Reid, 54, planned to disrupt Manchester Airport on Monday, August 5, last year.
The eco-activists planned to enter the airfield and stick themselves to the taxiway using the glue and sand, with one main goal; to cause chaos for the airport and gain media attention, Greater Manchester Police said. The four were arrested before they carried out their plot. At Minshull Crown Court in Manchester today (Tues May 27) all four were jailed.
A fifth member of the group, Noah Crane, 19, from Birmingham, was acquitted. He was not with the group on the day of the proposed protest.
The four were jailed at crown court in Manchester today (May 27) (Image: GMP )
Knorr and Ward, of Second Avenue, Birmingham; Rumbelow, of Anthill Road, Haringey; and Reid, of Low Fellside, Kendall were all convicted of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance following a trial.
During a hearing, Judge Jason MacAdam passed sentence. Rumbelow was jailed for two-and-a-half years, Knorr for two years, and Reid and Ward were both sentenced to 18 months.
Ward began shouting in the dock and holding up an orange card as she was being led down to start her sentence, saying: “Courts are complicit, billions will die without action.”
The MEN reports, Judge MacAdam said the airport plot “would have caused misery to thousands of people”, had it gone ahead.
It was the second day of the sentencing hearing, which began on Friday when submissions were made on behalf of the defendants. Reid, representing herself, told the court: “I did feel morally compelled to act in the face of death. That remains the case and I stand by my motives for this.”
Reid went on to say that the action “didn’t come from a place of arrogance, more like a place of service”. Laura O’Brien, defending Ward and Rumbelow, told the court: “These are otherwise law abiding citizens, they are not defendants who have no regard for the public.”
She added: “These are good people. These are people who have a deep fundamental care not just for their families, not just for people in this country, but for people around the globe.”
John Dove, defending Knoor, said: “He gave evidence at trial and he was very open about his actions and his motivations. The strongest mitigation is that he had a conscientious motive on his part. He acted out of what he would say is need.”
Just Stop Oil protesters planned to attack Manchester Airport (Image: Getty )
Speaking after the sentencing, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “As Just Stop Oil activists threatened a summer of disruption, police forces across the country began preparations to ensure the groups attempts were unsuccessful, and most importantly, to ensure the public were not at risk of harm as a result of their activity.
“Bringing together experts in the field, and through extensive collaboration, Greater Manchester Police successfully foiled their plans. A meticulous investigation followed, and today, we have seen those responsible jailed for a collective seven years and five months.
“Anyone who disrupts the safety and security of an airport can expect to be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and following a meticulous investigation, we welcome these sentences today and thank the jury for their service.”
Rad Taylor, Director of Aerodrome Operations at Manchester Airport, said the potential consequences if the plot had been successful “did not bear thinking about”. He added: “What these individuals were planning would not only have caused significant disruption for tens of thousands of passengers, but also a significant safety risk.”
Nicola Wells, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “This was a targeted attack, at the height of summer, against one of the country’s busiest airports, where they planned to glue themselves to the taxiways of the airport and cause serious disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of individuals.
“Whenever the right to protest crosses into criminality, whether by causing a public nuisance or distress to members of the public, we will not hesitate to prosecute these cases.”
Most Popular Comments
1st Most liked comment • 1 hour ago29
“Great news but another example of 2tierkier’s disproportionate sentencing. Should be much longer jail terms.”
2nd Most liked comment • 1 hour ago21
“and a woman that tweeted something she should have not had , was jailed for 3 and …”
3rd Most liked comment • 1 hour ago20
“Throw away the key!”