Woman says protest was 'peaceful'



A grandmother who scaled Buckingham Palace gates ahead of a visit by President Bush has denied trespassing at an RAF base in Gloucestershire.
Lindis Percy, 62, from Hull, climbed the palace gates and erected a flag to protest against the visit last November

The peace activist went on trial on Tuesday accused of breaking through gates at RAF Fairford last March.

Cirencester Magistrates' Court heard how Ms Percy was discovered by US personnel on the base near an aircraft.


Peaceful protest

Ms Percy is alleged to have got through the fence and hung an upside-down US flag from a plane.

Brendan Moorhouse, prosecuting, said Ms Percy intended to disrupt or obstruct the security maintenance of the base and that her trespass was unlawful.

Ms Percy has denied a charge of aggravated trespass, claiming she was simply there to protest peacefully against the anticipated conflict.

USAF senior airman Johnny Brown described how he helped bring Ms Percy to the ground and handcuffed her after spotting near a plane.

Armed with a rifle, he told the woman to raise her hands and halt, but she did not heed the instructions, the court heard.

Mr Brown said she walked towards him with her hands behind her back, told him she was peaceful and gave her name.

The trial continues.