A Just Stop Oil protester, identified as Cambridge University music student Cressida Gethin, aged 22, has been convicted of causing a public nuisance by climbing onto a gantry over the M25 motorway.
Gethin’s protest, which took place on July 20, 2022, aimed to draw attention to the UK reaching its hottest temperature on record, soaring to 40°C. Scaling the gantry as a form of protest, she sought to highlight the urgency of addressing climate change and the environmental crisis.
Following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court, a jury found Gethin guilty of causing a public nuisance, contrary to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, by a majority decision of 10 to two.
Testimony during the trial revealed that Gethin’s actions led to significant disruption, delaying the journeys of 3,923 British Airways passengers. BBC broadcaster Chris Packham testified, stating that he himself was stuck in four to five hours of traffic due to the protest.
While Gethin did not dispute her involvement in the protest, she argued that the consequences did not warrant the charge brought against her. In her closing statement, Gethin questioned whether the delays caused by the protest should be considered a “serious inconvenience,” given the potential positive impact of the policy change sought by the protest.
However, Judge Hannah Duncan ruled that evidence about climate change was not admissible or relevant to the case. Despite acknowledging the severity of the climate crisis, Judge Duncan emphasized that the jury’s consideration was limited to the charge of public nuisance.
Gethin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3, facing potential consequences for her actions on the motorway gantry. The verdict has sparked discussions about the balance between individual protest rights and public safety concerns, particularly in the context of urgent environmental issues.
