activists jailed
smaaashy | 07.03.2007 13:16 | South Coast
trespass with intent to intimidate & frighten ends in Jail sententances, sets the ground for smashedo defendants in forthcoming cases?
Campaign ends in jail for animal extremists
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
Last Updated: 10:42am GMT 07/03/2007
Video: Spreading fear and intimidation
Three animal rights activists were jailed yesterday for their part in a campaign of intimidation against companies associated with a leading animal research organisation.
The campaign was aimed at businesses which either supplied or dealt with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) in Cambridgeshire - for many years the principal target of the violent fringe of the animal rights movement.
advertisementDuring three months over the summer of 2005, workers in the affected companies were left terrified as up to 12 protesters invaded their offices shouting "Murderers" and other insults, and photographed them to put their pictures on the internet, the Old Bailey heard.
Mark Taylor, 39, his wife Suzanne, 35, both of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Teresa Portwine, 48, of New Addington, Surrey, were prosecuted under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which is aimed at tackling extremism.
They pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship, an offence created under the Act. The judge held a three-day hearing in January to assess the extent of their involvement.
Mark Taylor was jailed for four years and his wife for two-and-a-half years. Portwine was sentenced to 15 months. Mr Justice Goldring said the sentences should be a deterrent to others.
Mark Taylor pleaded for his freedom at the Old Bailey claiming he had not realised how frightened his victims were and promising: "I have no intention of going out and demonstrating again."
The Taylors and Portwine embraced in the dock before being led to the cells. All were members of Shac (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty), the main vehicle for activity against HLS.
They were arrested following a nationwide inquiry by the police National Domestic Extremism team, following 23 demonstrations in Cheshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Greater Manchester, Humberside, London, Surrey, Thames Valley and West Yorkshire between July and September 2005. Demonstrations were planned with 'military precision' and involved protesters with air horns, cameras, loud hailers and banners. They targeted up to five firms in a day, barging into office receptions, banging on windows and carrying out acts of vandalism.
Edward Brown, prosecuting, said: "They used various degrees of intimidation, fright and, as a group, violence." One company in Peterborough was invaded by five demonstrators wearing skull masks.
"The company dropped HLS as a customer as a direct result of the events and also because of the threatening letters sent to the company."
Mark Taylor was a "significant player". His wife was said to have taken part over three weeks of the campaign and had to care for her two teenage daughters. Portwine, who worked in a kitchen shop, and is a mother of five, was said to have quit the protests when police traced her.
Mr Justice Goldring said he had to jail them because members of the public had a right to go to work unheeded.
"This course of conduct will not be tolerated. I am sure the intention was to intimidate and frighten those at their lawful place of work," he said.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "Everyone is entitled to conduct lawful business, to work and to purchase goods and services without fear of intimidation and disruption. The Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who unlawfully stand in the way of these fundamental rights, whatever their motivation."
Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, the co-ordinator for domestic extremism in the Association of Chief Police Officer, said: "The actions of these people who have been sentenced today went well beyond what is lawful and acceptable."
The Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling, said: "Animal research has saved millions of lives and is only done when necessary and under stringent controls. It is utterly wrong that a small minority of extremists should try to put life-saving medical research at risk through campaigns of fear, stopping individuals and companies going about their lawful business. We will not let them put this vital research at risk."
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
Last Updated: 10:42am GMT 07/03/2007
Video: Spreading fear and intimidation
Three animal rights activists were jailed yesterday for their part in a campaign of intimidation against companies associated with a leading animal research organisation.
The campaign was aimed at businesses which either supplied or dealt with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) in Cambridgeshire - for many years the principal target of the violent fringe of the animal rights movement.
advertisementDuring three months over the summer of 2005, workers in the affected companies were left terrified as up to 12 protesters invaded their offices shouting "Murderers" and other insults, and photographed them to put their pictures on the internet, the Old Bailey heard.
Mark Taylor, 39, his wife Suzanne, 35, both of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Teresa Portwine, 48, of New Addington, Surrey, were prosecuted under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which is aimed at tackling extremism.
They pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship, an offence created under the Act. The judge held a three-day hearing in January to assess the extent of their involvement.
Mark Taylor was jailed for four years and his wife for two-and-a-half years. Portwine was sentenced to 15 months. Mr Justice Goldring said the sentences should be a deterrent to others.
Mark Taylor pleaded for his freedom at the Old Bailey claiming he had not realised how frightened his victims were and promising: "I have no intention of going out and demonstrating again."
The Taylors and Portwine embraced in the dock before being led to the cells. All were members of Shac (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty), the main vehicle for activity against HLS.
They were arrested following a nationwide inquiry by the police National Domestic Extremism team, following 23 demonstrations in Cheshire, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Greater Manchester, Humberside, London, Surrey, Thames Valley and West Yorkshire between July and September 2005. Demonstrations were planned with 'military precision' and involved protesters with air horns, cameras, loud hailers and banners. They targeted up to five firms in a day, barging into office receptions, banging on windows and carrying out acts of vandalism.
Edward Brown, prosecuting, said: "They used various degrees of intimidation, fright and, as a group, violence." One company in Peterborough was invaded by five demonstrators wearing skull masks.
"The company dropped HLS as a customer as a direct result of the events and also because of the threatening letters sent to the company."
Mark Taylor was a "significant player". His wife was said to have taken part over three weeks of the campaign and had to care for her two teenage daughters. Portwine, who worked in a kitchen shop, and is a mother of five, was said to have quit the protests when police traced her.
Mr Justice Goldring said he had to jail them because members of the public had a right to go to work unheeded.
"This course of conduct will not be tolerated. I am sure the intention was to intimidate and frighten those at their lawful place of work," he said.
Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "Everyone is entitled to conduct lawful business, to work and to purchase goods and services without fear of intimidation and disruption. The Crown Prosecution Service will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who unlawfully stand in the way of these fundamental rights, whatever their motivation."
Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, the co-ordinator for domestic extremism in the Association of Chief Police Officer, said: "The actions of these people who have been sentenced today went well beyond what is lawful and acceptable."
The Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling, said: "Animal research has saved millions of lives and is only done when necessary and under stringent controls. It is utterly wrong that a small minority of extremists should try to put life-saving medical research at risk through campaigns of fear, stopping individuals and companies going about their lawful business. We will not let them put this vital research at risk."
smaaashy