‘Just Stop Oil’ activists remanded in custody after storming track at F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone
Two eco activists, including a John Lennon-lookalike, have been remanded in custody after appearing in court over storming onto the track at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
A total of six people appeared in front of the judge at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, all charged over the track invasion.
David Baldwin, 46, Emily Brocklebank, 23, Alasdair Gibson, 21, Louis McKechnie, 21, Bethany Mogie, 40, and Joshua Smith, 29, have all been charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
Six people appeared in front of the judge at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, over storming onto the track at the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Louis McKechnie (pictured) and Joshua Smith, both of Manchester, were remanded into custody ahead of a plea hearing on October 3
Alasdair Gibson (pictured), 21, was also charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance
Protesters stormed the Wellington Straight, the fastest point of the Northamptonshire track, before sitting down during the opening lap of the race on July 3.
A previous court hearing heard demonstrators entered the track wearing orange tracksuits bearing the message ‘Just Stop Oil’.
Just Stop Oil, the protest group working to put pressure on the government to halt fossil fuel deals, is run by experienced organisers from Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.
Pictured: The protestors storming the track after the first lap on July 3
Pictured: Emily Brocklebank (right) arrives at Northampton Crown Court on Friday
Protesters stormed the Wellington Straight, the fastest point of the Northamptonshire track, before sitting down during the opening lap of the race on July 3
A previous court hearing heard demonstrators entered the track wearing orange tracksuits bearing the message ‘Just Stop Oil’. Pictured: David Baldwin, 46
None of the defendants were required to enter a plea at Northampton Crown Court on Friday. Pictured: Bethany Mogie, 40, arriving at court
They have attracted attention in recent years for disruptive protests including gluing themselves to main roads.
On July 3, the contest had already been suspended following Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu’s high-speed crash, but a number of cars sped by.
None of the defendants were required to enter a plea at Northampton Crown Court on Friday.
McKechnie and Smith, both of Manchester, were remanded into custody ahead of a plea hearing on October 3.
Just Stop Oil protestors arrived outside Northampton Crown Court to show support
They have attracted attention in recent years for disruptive protests including gluing themselves to main roads
Baldwin, of Witney, Oxfordshire; Brocklebank, of Yeadon, Leeds; Gibson, of Aberdeen; and Mogie, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, were granted bail until the same date.
Just Stop Oil took credit for the protest, posting on social media after it occurred last month: ‘If you are more outraged about this disruption than our world being burnt before our eyes, then you need to get your priorities straight.
‘We are going to lose everything we love to extreme heating and climate breakdown. We will not be spectators while our planet burns and our entire species suffers. We will not sit by and do nothing while our government continues with oil. ‘
