Judge issues warrant for eco mob after they glue themselves together outside court

1 February 2022, 15:34 | Updated: 1 February 2022, 15:49

Insulate Britain protesters glue themselves down outside High Court

Eco protesters have glued themselves together outside the High Court in London, ahead of their second hearing for allegedly breaching an injunction on the M25.

Four Insulate Britain protesters lined up on the steps of the High Court, with their hands glued together.

Theresa Norton, 63, Dr Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35 and Steve Pritchard, 62, said they were refusing to go inside, instead awaiting arrest.

Lord Justice William Davis later read out a note from the four protesters in court, which said: "The four of us feel we have to continue our resistance today because we don't want to cooperate with a system which is causing so much death and hardship."

The judge said he issued a bench warrant and hoped it would be executed on Tuesday afternoon.

It comes as more than a dozen Insulate Britain protesters were due to appear in court on Tuesday after allegedly breaching an injunction in 2021, when they halted traffic on the M25.

One of the demonstrators, Dr Diana Warner, told LBC: "We're meant to be in the High Court this afternoon for our second session.

"Resistance continues because we only have two or three, maximum four years to change things around, according to scientists.

"Our children and our futures are really going to be very different."

She added: "We are not going back in until we are taken in."

When asked about the consequences, Dr Warner said she was well aware the move was in contempt of court, saying her and the three others involved were expecting to be arrested.

Security later came out to lock the four inside the High Court grounds, with people watching on from a distance.

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Security lock in eco protesters at High Court

A number of High Court injunctions against the group's road blockades have been granted to National Highways and Transport for London to prevent their disruptive protests continuing.

Those who breach the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

In November 2021, nine Insulate Britain supporters were jailed at the High Court after admitting breaching the injunction by participating in a blockade on the M25 in October.

Other demonstrators were jailed or given suspended sentences in December for a similar breach.

Insulate Britain's extreme tactics have been met with outrage from the public, with videos appearing to show protesters being dragged off the road by motorists and one woman threatening to run them over.

However, they are yet to succeed in their mission to get the Government to commit to fully funding "the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025" and produce a "legally binding national plan" to help resolve the climate crisis.