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Three 'violent' activists jailed | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been jailed for a record four years for a campaign of intimidation against an animal testing company. | A man has been jailed for a record four years for a campaign of intimidation against an animal testing company. |
Mark Taylor, 39, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, targeted firms working with Huntingdon Life Sciences, in Cambridgeshire, the Old Bailey heard. | |
His wife Suzanne, 35, was jailed for 30 months and Teresa Portwine, 48, of New Addington, Surrey, received 15 months. | |
All three had admitted conspiracy to interfere with a contractual relationship, at an earlier hearing. | |
The offence was created by the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and designed to stop staff being subjected to harassment by protesters. | |
The judge said their intention was clearly to "intimidate and frighten" ordinary members of staff. | |
'Murderers' | 'Murderers' |
All three activists were members of a group called Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac). | |
The actions of these people who have been sentenced today went well beyond what is lawful and acceptable Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell | |
They took part in a campaign of intimidation against businesses in the summer of 2005, during which they attacked up to 25 separate targets, including a haulage firm and catering company. | |
Firms perceived to be working with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) were singled out on Shac's website, along with photographs of individual workers. | |
Staff were left terrified when up to 12 protesters at a time invaded their offices shouting "murderers". | |
And one company in Peterborough dropped its contract with HLS altogether after it was attacked by five demonstrators wearing skull masks. | |
Taylor himself attended 20 demonstrations - 17 after he was arrested and was on bail. | |
Plea to judge | |
Housewife and mother-of-two Suzanne Taylor was said to have taken part in the campaign for three weeks, while Portwine, a kitchen consultant and mother-of-five, is believed to have left as soon as police discovered her identity. | |
Unemployed Taylor told the judge he regretted his actions and said he never meant anyone to be fearful of him. | |
He maintained he was deeply committed to animal rights, but promised to devote his time to his local dog shelter in future rather than going on demonstrations. | |
However, the judge described his behaviour and that of his co-defendants as "violent and intimidatory". | |
Mr Justice Goldring said the sentences must act as a deterrent, adding: "Throughout, I am sure the intention was to intimidate and frighten those at their lawful place of work." | |
'Thuggery' | 'Thuggery' |
HLS carries out medical research on animals which the government has described as vital, but it has come under repeated fire from animal rights groups. | |
Iain Simpson, from Pro-Test which supports animal testing, told the BBC he hoped the sentences would not deter legitimate activism, but would put off those intent on violence. | Iain Simpson, from Pro-Test which supports animal testing, told the BBC he hoped the sentences would not deter legitimate activism, but would put off those intent on violence. |
"You can't break into someone's offices and go around filming, intimidating and abusing the staff," he said. | "You can't break into someone's offices and go around filming, intimidating and abusing the staff," he said. |
"It's thuggery, it's intimidation and it's against the law. | "It's thuggery, it's intimidation and it's against the law. |
"You can still demonstrate peacefully, you can still demonstrate legally." | "You can still demonstrate peacefully, you can still demonstrate legally." |
You can still demonstrate peacefully, you can still demonstrate legally Iain Simpson, from Pro-Test | |
After the case, Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald said he would not hesitate to pursue anyone who sought to intimidate companies. | |
"Everyone is entitled to conduct lawful business, to work and to purchase goods and services without fear of intimidation and disruption," he said. | |
The three activists were arrested following a nationwide inquiry by the police National Domestic Extremism Team. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Anton Setchell, the team's co-ordinator, said: "The actions of these people who have been sentenced today went well beyond what is lawful and acceptable." | |
The first person to be convicted under the new laws was cancer scientist Joseph Harris, 26, who was jailed for three years last September. |