Evidence has come to light of political manoeuvring by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to literally rewrite history to blacken the names of animal rights activists. Unfortunately for them, the internet archive ( http://web.archive.org) allows us to prove the complicity of the CPS in the current climate of hysteria against a movement that was getting just too successful.

Immediately after the conviction of four animal rights activists ( http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/340791.html) for blackmail in April 2006 following the successful campaign to close the Newchurch Guineapig farm, the Crown Prosecution service issued a gleeful press release, reproduced in full below at the bottom of this article. If you check the CPS press release archive today ( http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/archive/2006/120_06.html) you will see ALMOST exactly the same words. Almost, because this crucial admission from the CPS is now missing:

"Although the prosecution could not prove they actually physically stole the body of Gladys Hammond, they have admitted using that theft as part of their campaign"

The original CPS press release can be found here  http://web.archive.org/web/20060418044852/www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/120_06.html

Questions should be asked of the supposedly independent prosecuting authority. Who removed this sentence, why and on whose orders? Although most of the press coverage at the time ignored the inconvenient truth that those prosecuted had nothing to do with the alleged body theft, there were a few articles that quoted this sentence directly. Presumably this panicked those directing the AR witch hunt and strings were pulled to get the truth pulled.

Activists should be aware of the potential of the internet archive (link above) as a tool for digging around in areas that those in authority think they have tidied, rewriting history up to suit themselves.

Please support Jonny, Kerry, Jon and all the other AR prisoners: www.vpsg.org.

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CPS secures guilty pleas in Darley Oaks Farm blackmail case
11 April 2006

The final defendant has pleaded guilty in the Crown Prosecution Service's case against four animal rights protesters accused of conspiracy to blackmail in a campaign to shut down Darley Oaks guinea pig farm in Staffordshire. The campaign culminated in the theft of the body of Gladys Hammond, the mother-in-law of one of the farm's owners.

Chief Crown Prosecutor for Staffordshire, Harry Ireland said: "The strength of this prosecution gave the accused no option but to plead guilty.

"These people orchestrated a long running and unpleasant campaign to cause fear and suffering to anyone connected with Darley Oaks farm.

"Their actions went well beyond lawful protesting and persuading; they threatened death and violence, damaged property and used explosive devices.

"Although the prosecution could not prove they actually physically stole the body of Gladys Hammond, they have admitted using that theft as part of their campaign. The whereabouts of Mrs Hammond's body remains unknown.

"Their forceful and illegal campaign has been met with an appropriately forceful prosecution. These guilty pleas reflect the criminal justice system's determination that communities should be allowed to go about their business free of fear and intimidation."

Josephine Mayo pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court today of conspiracy to blackmail. Three other defendants – John Ablewhite, John Smith and Kerry Whitburn – pleaded guilty to the same offence at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday evening.

The charge related to a campaign of blackmail between September 1999 and September 2005 aimed at closing down the business of David Hall & Partners in Newchurch, Staffordshire. Their business bred guinea pigs at Darley Oaks Farm for use in medical research; however the farm has now closed its breeding operations and reverted to arable farming.

Josephine Mayo was given conditional bail and the other three defendants were remanded in custody. All four will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 11 and 12 May 2006.