Jailed Insulate Britain activists told to pay just half legal costs

NINE activists from Insulate Britain jailed for breaching High Court injunctions have been ordered to only pay half of National Highways’ “excessive” claim for legal costs, judges have ruled.

The protesters were sentenced on Wednesday after they admitted breaching an injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 during the morning rush hour on Oct 8.

Ana Heyatawin, 58, and Louis Mckechnie, 20, were jailed for three months, while Ben Buse, 36, Roman Paluchmachnik, 28, Oliver Rock, 41, Emma Smart, 44, Tim Speers, 36, and James Thomas, 47, received four-month sentences.

Ben Taylor, 37, was given a longer sentence of six months “to deter [him] from committing further breaches” after his submissions to the court on Tuesday were described by Dame Victoria Sharp as “inflammatory” and a “call to arms”.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Chamberlain, said there was no alternative to custodial sentences given that the group’s actions were so serious and they had made it clear they intended to further flout court orders.

Myriam Stacey QC, representing National Highways, previously said the legal costs of the contempt proceedings were just over £91,000 and she asked the court to order the protesters to pay.

But in a written judgment after the hearing, the two judges ruled while it was fair to get the activists to pay some legal fees, National Highways’ claimed costs were “excessive”. They also said it was not “reasonable” for three solicitors to attend the High Court hearing.