THREE animal rights activists were remanded in custody by Burton magistrates today after being charged with taking part in a six-year terror campaign against the owners of a controversial guinea pig farm.
Three men and a woman appeared in court this morning after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail David Hall and Partners, the owners of Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, which breeds guinea pigs for medical research.

The defendants — John Ablewhite, 35, of Hawley Street, Levenshulme, Manchester; John Smith, 35, of Leicester Street, Wolverhampton; Kerry Whitburn, 36, of Summer Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham; and Josephine Mayo, 37, of Cottage Close, Chasetown — were arrested in pre-planned raids on Tuesday morning, since when they had been held for questioning by detectives at Burton Police Station before being charged last night.

The charge against the four accused states that: "Between September 1, 1999, and September 27, 2005, at Newchurch, conspiring together with a view to cause loss to another, you made an unwarranted demand of the closure of the lawful business of David Hall and Partners and others with menaces."

Applications for bail for Ablewhite, Smith and Whiburn were refused and they were remanded in custody to appear at Stafford Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on Friday next week.

Mayo was bailed to the same date with conditions including a curfew and a ban on entering East defined areas of Staffordshire.

The Horninglow Street courthouse, which is normally only covered by The Mail, was besieged by journalists from national media organisations as the charges came nearly a year after the remains of Gladys Hammond, 82 — the mother-in-law of Chris Hall, one of the farm's owners — were taken from her grave at St Peter’s Church, in Yoxall.

The Hall family announced last month that they were to cease the guinea pig breeding operation by the end of the year in the hope Mrs Hammond's remains would be returned.

(ends) Link >>  http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=General%20News&id=5854740

Below is a list of activists in the UK who have lost what little liberty they had on the outside whilst fighting in the struggle for animal liberation. Support those that are currently doing time by sending upbeat letters of support to them. Remember all letters are read by the prison authorities first so be careful what you say. All letters must have a valid address from the sender.

September 30th 2005
------------------------------
Three people have been remanded in custody charged with conspiracy to blackmail the Hall family from Newchurch guineapig breeders. They are John Smith (TB4887), Jon Ablewhite (TB4885) and Kerry Whitburn (TB4886) and are at HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS.

Sarah Gisborne
----------------------
(LT5393) HMP Cookham Wood, Rochester, Kent ME1 3LU
Serving 6.5 years for conspiracy to cause criminal damage.
What you can send Sarah: Postal Orders¹ (recorded delivery),SAEs, books.

Dave Blenkinsop
-----------------------
(EM7899) HMP Rye Hill, Onley, Warwickshire. CV23 8AN
Serving 10 years: 3 years for GBH (on Brian Cass, MD of HLS), 18 months for burglary in connection with 'theft' of 600 guinea-pigs from Newchurch Farm and 5½ years for possession of incendiary devices.
What you can send Dave: Cheques/Postal Orders¹ (send by recorded delivery),stamps, SAEs, writing paper, envelopes.

Keith Mann
---------------
(KJ9365) Mercia Wing, HMP Guys Marsh, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0AH
Keith Mann was sentenced 29.04.05 to 6 months for an alleged 'contempt of court' after standing trial for a raid on Wickham laboratories. *Keith's sentence was increased by another twelve months by court of appeal judges on 11.07.05
What you can send Keith: Keith is allowed cheques, postal orders, envelopes, stamps and writing paper. Please remember to make any cheques or postal orders out to the Governor, though they should still be sent direct to the prisoner so they can process them. Please enclosed a self-addressed envelope so the prisoner can acknowledge receipt of the cheque/postal order

¹ Please note that cheques/POs should be made payable to "The Governor", and have the prisoner's name and number printed clearly on the back of the cheque/PO. The prisoner will then forward the cheque/PO to be processed. Please also include a SAE for the prisoner to acknowledge receipt, and indicate in your letter that you have done so. HMP Rye Hill request that cheques/POs are sent by recorded delivery.

More info on current animal rights prisoners in the UK at >>  http://www.vpsg.org/ (Vegan Prisoners Support Group)