The four are charged with conspiracy to blackmail David Hall and partners and others connected to Darley Oaks Farm, Newchurch, Staffordshire, between 1 September 1999 and 27 September this year. They allegedly conspired together "with a view to cause loss to another" by making unwarranted demands for the closure of Darley Oaks Farm. Three of them have been held on remand since last September.

They have been charged with blackmail, the logic being that if you threaten to protest in order to coerce someone to do something and any element of illegality is involved, then that is blackmail and potentially anyone who goes on a demo or writes a letter or makes a phone call with the intention of persuading the recipient to stop harming animals could be at risk dependant on this case.

The remand details are:

John Smith (TB4887)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

Jon Ablewhite (TB4885)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

Kerry Whitburn (TB4886)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

The forth defendant, Josephine Mayo has been charged and released on conditional bail.


Whilst the above defendants are not accused of any 'grave' offences, the Staffordshire Police have mounted a campaign of harassment and intimidation against peaceful protestors since the body of Gladys Hammond, the mother-in-law to one of the Hall brothers, was stolen from a grave in October of last year. Whilst there has been no claim of this being an animal rights action, some question whether it ever actually happened and no independent inspection of the crime scene has been allowed.

If she had been dug up by AR activists it would have been expected that by now they would have made an anonymous deal to return her in exchange for the release of those on remand, and the dropping of all charges against all those have so far been charged in connection with Newchurch. Gladys would be an ideal bargaining tool to achieve this.

Some are not convinced that she has been dug up, and even
if she has it was probably by persons in the pay of the government or Halls to discredit the AR movement.

One of those harassed by the police, John Curtin, is suing the police over their behaviour - John was in London at the High Court when Mrs Hammond’s body was stolen!

As with all newspapers/media remember they work on the old adage, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story"

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Save The Newchurch Guinea Pigs: www.liberation-now.org

Nottingham Animal Rights (including NewsList): www.veggies.org.uk/nar

Veggies Animal Rights Calendar: www.veggies.org.uk/arc.php