Protesters deny charges over road blocking stunt

SIX climate change protesters including several from the West have pleaded not guilty to offences linked with a road blocking stunt in central London.

Three women and three men have been charged with wilful obstruction of the highway over a demonstration in Cromwell Road, south Kensington, on October 19.

The defendants spoke only to confirm their names and addresses during a short plea hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

They are Stephen Jarvis, 66, from Devon, Lora Johnson, 38, from Southwold in Suffolk, Benjamin Larsen, 25, from Cheshire, Anna Retallack, 58, from Cornwall, Ben Sansam, 38, from Bristol, and Sheila Shatford, 67, from Bristol.

They will return to the same court on April 4 for a two-day trial.