Ten Greenpeace activists go on trail after blocking tanker at Grays oil terminal
The defendants, aged between 27 and 72, have gone on trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
Ten Greenpeace activists who blocked a jetty at an oil terminal, forcing a tanker carrying Russian diesel to U-turn, will claim in court that their actions were lawful as they were “preventing a crime”.
The defendants, aged between 27 and 72, have gone on trial at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.
Monali Ralerasker, prosecuting, said the operations manager of Navigator Terminals in Grays, Essex, was made aware that protesters had breached the jetty at around 11.10pm on May 15 this year.
“They had gained access from the riverside by dinghy boats,” the lawyer said.
She said the jetty is “important” to the terminal’s infrastructure as it is “used for large tankers to dock”.
Activists attached themselves to the structure and displayed a banner that said “oil fuels war”.
Ms Ralerasker said a vessel due to dock on May 16 was turned around in the River Thames.
“The Port of London Authority made the decision to turn the ship around and return her to anchorage so no fuel was discharged,” she said.
The protesters were later arrested and taken into custody in Colchester.
Describing what the issue in the case would be, Ms Ralerasker said: “What they say is they were acting in an honest belief that they were preventing a crime being committed here.”
In a TikTok video played in court, a protester at the site said: “We’re sending a message to the UK Government to stop importing Russian oil.
“We’re here to stop a ship carrying Russian oil from docking here in the UK.”
The 10 defendants deny a single charge of obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
It is said they trespassed on land at Navigator Terminals and blocked the jetty, obstructing or disrupting “a lawful activity, namely fuel distribution”.
The defendants are: Benji Bailes, 38, of Gloucester; Michael Grant, 62, of Rosewell, Midlothian; Kim Harrison, 38, of Oldham, Greater Manchester; Benjamin Hearne-Salter, 41, of Kashmir Road, south London; David James, 62, of Bromfelde Road, south London; Ian Mills, 56, of Chippenham, Wiltshire; Zoe Pontida, 32, of Oxford; Henry Rayner, 28, of Ivanhoe Road, south London; Lyndall Stein, 72, of Surrey Row, south London; Rhiannon Wood, 27, of Hedge End, near Southampton, Hampshire.
The trial, being heard before district judge Christopher Williams and due to last two days, continues.