Oliver Connor secures conviction against climate protestor who intentionally obstructed a train

The trial began on 24 February 2025 at Leeds Crown Court before HHJ Kearl KC, The Recorder of Leeds. The Jury heard that the Diana Warner had waited under a nearby railway bridge before climbing over a barbed wire fence in order to trespass onto the railways just outside Selby. Dressed in orange hi-visiblity clothing and waving an orange flag, she then walked down the tracks towards an oncoming train destined for the power plant. The train driver took evasive action by applying the brakes and bringing the train to stop on the tracks for around a minute. Meanwhile, the Defendant stood trackside speaking to a camera about her reasons for stopping the train. 

Following legal argument, the Learned Judge withdrew the defences of Necessity/Duress of Circumstance and Proportionality from the Jury. Ruling that the former had not arisen on the evidence and in respect of the latter, that prosecution and/or conviction was not a disproportionate interference with the Defendant’s Article 10 and 11 rights under the the ECHR. The only remaining issue for the Jury to determine was whether the train had been obstructed. In closing, Oliver told the Jury, “the common sense conclusion is that stopping the train is obstructing the train.”

The Jury returned a verdict of guilty on Wednesday (26 February) morning. Sentence has been adjourned for the preparation of pre-sentence reports and will take place at Leeds Crown Court on 25 March 2025. 

Drax climate protest GP guilty of obstructing power station railway – BBC News

Authors

Oliver Connor

Call 2017