Just Stop Oil Protester Jailed for M25 Motorway Stunt
Jan Goodey, 57, a Just Stop Oil supporter from Brighton, has been handed six months behind bars for climbing a gantry on the M25 in November. The daring stunt at junction 16 aimed to demand an end to new oil and gas projects in the UK.
First Trial Under Tough New Law
Jan was arrested on November 7 and charged with intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance. It was the first-ever trial under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, targeting disruptive protests. Initially sentenced to nine months, Jan’s jail time was reduced to six months after a guilty plea. He is expected to serve at least half of this term.
The magistrate warned the sentence would act as a “deterrent” to stop protesters interfering with people going about their “lawful business.”
More Protesters Facing Court
- Two more Just Stop Oil activists, Anthony Whitehouse and Arne Springorum, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court tomorrow at 2pm.
- They face the same public nuisance charges for their roles in the November M25 protests.
Just Stop Oil Responds: “Government Chooses Jail Over Climate”
“This shows that our government would rather lock up peaceful protesters than put an end to new oil and gas,” said a Just Stop Oil spokesperson. “We know the course they are setting is going to destroy everything we know and love and that is why we must resist. We will continue to do everything nonviolently possible to stop this horror. This is what Jan has done.”
