Eight Just Stop Oil activists acquitted of Public Nuisance charge – Ife Thompson instructed

Ife Thompson of the Nexus Chambers Crime Team represented protestor Sophie Sharples, instructed by Francesca Cociani of Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors.

Ife Thompson co-defended alongside Sarah-Jane Ewart of One Pump Court and Brad Lawlor of 3 Temple Gardens in a 13-day trial at Guildford Crown Court.

The case arose from a direct-action protest on 24 August 2022 at the Shell petrol station at Cobham services on the M25, during which Just Stop Oil activists glued their hands to the petrol station forecourt while calling for an end to new fossil fuel licences.

The case has attracted media attention in the following outlets:
The Metro: Eco protesters glue themselves to M25 forecourts
The Canary: Another jury finds Just Stop Oil protesters not guilty

As part of the defence case, counsel successfully argued that issues of proportionality, including the rights to freedom of speech and assembly under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, together with the defence of reasonable excuse, should be left to the jury. The jury acquitted all the defendants of the public nuisance charge.

Ife Thompson regularly acts in protest law matters. To instruct her, please contact her clerks at Nexus Chambers – Info@nexuschambers.com