Just Stop Oil protesters guilty over "serious" risk to F1 drivers at British GP

10 February 2023 , 16:47

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Bethany Mogie, Alasdair Gibson, Emily Brocklebank and David Baldwin were among six Just Stop Oil protesters on trial at Northampton Crown Court (Image: PA)

A jury found six Just Stop Oil protesters were guilty of risking "serious harm" to Formula 1 drivers by running onto the Silverstone track at the 2022 British Grand Prix.

David Baldwin, 47, Emily Brocklebank, 24, Alasdair Gibson, 22, Louis McKechnie, 22, Bethany Mogie, 40 and Joshua Smith, 29, were all tried at Northampton Crown Court over the track invasion last summer. It happened on the first lap, after the race had already been red flagged following a huge crash at the first corner.

Five of the six defendants all went onto the track, while Baldwin was later found in the car park of the circuit with a Just Stop Oil banner as well as glue and cable ties. Prosecutors said he was "in it together" with the others.

Defending their actions, the accused had claimed that the only entered the track because the race had been neutralised and that they had a "meticulous" safety plan in place. However, after eight hours and 47 minutes of deliberations over three days, jurors found all six of the activists guilty.

At the start of the trial, prosecutor Simon Jones told the court: "As events unfolded, the F1 Grand Prix had started and it was under a red flag after a serious accident had occurred at the very start. Each of these defendants were present at Silverstone and they were intent on causing a disruption to the race."

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Jurors saw footage of the track invasion, including some angles from the cameras fitted onto the cars as they passed on the track. Some of the clips showed marshals trying desperately to drag the protestors off the circuit.

Marshals dragged the protestors off the track as F1 cars drove past

Mr Jones added: "The prosecution say that there was clearly an immediate risk of serious harm being caused. Plainly, they could have been struck by fast-moving vehicles with obvious severe consequences. We say that that their actions also caused risk to the drivers themselves and the marshals."

Mogie, who represented herself, told the jury: "To love is to protect. And I hope you can see that's what we set out to do that day at Silverstone, before and on the day, with our planning and by sitting on the track peacefully for all that we are trying to protect.

"I hope you have been able to see us for the people that we are, not just protesters. We could never act to harm or be reckless. We act in love to protect. I hope in your hearts you can see this and find us not guilty."

Just Stop Oil supporters outside Northampton Crown Court (PA)

McKechnie told jurors the group had planned the protest over two-and-a-half months, making it as safe as possible. The 22-year-old has a previous conviction for having entered the Goodison Park pitch to tie himself to a goalpost during a Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United.

The six defendants will return to the court on March 31 for sentencing. Mr Justice Garnham said: "All of them should understand and be in no doubt that I will be considering all possible options when it comes to sentence, and that includes the possibility of a prison sentence."

All the defendants were granted bail after agreeing not to become involved in further protests while awaiting sentence.

Daniel Moxon