Anti-trident protesters’ convictions quashed

Five anti-trident campaigners have won a High Court battle against convictions for committing highways offences during a demonstration - thanks to a suspect green line.

The five Christians chained and glued themselves together and lay down to block the main access road to the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield, near Reading in Berkshire, in June last year.

From the group Put Down The Sword/trident Ploughshares, they were arrested and charged with wilfully obstructing free passage along a highway, contrary to the 1980 Highways Act, while displaying messages including “Jesus said love your enemies don’t bomb them”.

They were found guilty by District Judge Shomon Khan at Reading Magistrates’ Court in January.