Five in court accused of breaking Essex fuel protests injuction
They're accused of breaching a court order intended to prevent protestors blocking roads in south Essex
Council bosses in Essex want a judge to consider handing five people involved in protests near fuel terminals jail sentences after making contempt allegations.
Ruth Cook, Joy Corrigan, Patrick Hart, Stephen Jarvis, and George Oakenfold appeared before Mrs Justice Heather Williams at a preliminary High Court hearing in London on Thursday.
A barrister representing Thurrock Council and Essex County Council told the judge, in a written case outline, that the matter was a "committal for contempt of court".
Natalie Pratt said all five defendants had been arrested recently and were accused of breaching an injunction made by another civil court judge in May.
The injunction barred protesters interfering with the flow of traffic on certain roads around fuel terminals and storage depots in West Thurrock, Purfleet, Grays and Canvey Island.
None of the five defendants, who have been remanded on bail, entered any pleas.
Mrs Justice Williams said the defendants had been involved in protests.
A judge is due to reconsider the case on November 18.