Major national protest leads to seven convictions for road obstruction | Liverpool Echo

Seven people were fined after the M57 was blocked.

The group were sentenced at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, May 24) following a protest on Wango Lane which took place on the same day as last year’s Grand National.

On Saturday 15 April 2023, Merseyside Police received a report of protests at junction 2 of the M57 and Wango Lane, near Aintree Racecourse.

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The court heard that officers were asked to search the minibus and stop it after receiving information that the occupants were planning to protest at the racecourse. Prosecutor Simon Jones said a police-marked vehicle drove ahead of the minibus on the M57 and an electronic traffic sign asked the driver to follow.

The court heard that one person was immediately arrested by a police officer, but seven others “ran into the middle lane and stuck to the road and to each other”.

Mr Jones said: “Police arrested them at around 4.30pm (on suspicion of causing a public nuisance) and they were further arrested at 5pm for obstructing the motorway median. A police vehicle further behind prevented traffic from following the road. There was a concern for safety – not just for them, but for officers and other road users.”

Following an ongoing investigation, nine people have been charged with willfully obstructing a highway. They were found guilty today:

• Sarah Love, 47, of no fixed abode
• Jamie Carter, 29, of no fixed abode;
• Eleanor Kenny, 19, of no fixed abode;
• Andrew Houghton, 67 of Mendip Crescent, Bedford;
• Zoe Able, 28 and from Leeders Pightle, Norfolk;
• Tobias Brown, 49 of West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe
• Lucia Alexander, 40, of Halle Lane, Wacton, Norfolk

Rosa Sharkey, 23, of Chase Side Avenue, Enfield, and James Kelly, 46, of Mornant Avenue, Hartford, in Northwich, were found guilty and fined at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

Detective Chief Inspector Ben Dyer said: “As at the previous hearing, the seven defendants relied heavily on their right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights during their court hearing. However, all have now been found guilty. .

“Merseyside Police respects the right to peaceful protest and the expression of views, but where this turns into criminal behavior and disorder it will not be tolerated. Such actions put protesters and other road users at huge risk and, as always, have the potential to disrupt emergency services responding to serious incidents.

“I hope these results send a strong message and act as a future deterrent to others. Peaceful protest has its place in society, but that place is not in the middle of a highway.”

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