Climate Protesters Jailed for Massive M25 Mayhem
Morgan Trowland, 40, and Marcus Decker, 36, have been slammed with hefty jail sentences after blocking one of Britain’s busiest roads during a dramatic climate protest last October.
On October 17, the duo dangled a huge banner across the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, linking Essex and Kent, and spent the night dangling in hammocks in freezing temperatures. Their stunt forced police to shut down lanes, bringing traffic to a standstill and causing chaos for over 40 hours.
Traffic Chaos and Serious Disruption
- The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge was closed from 4am on October 17 until 9pm the next day.
- Police redirected thousands of vehicles through the dartford/" title="Dartford" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Dartford Tunnel, sparking massive gridlock.
- A heavily pregnant woman was delayed needing urgent medical care.
- One man missed his best friend’s funeral after 35 years.
- Local businesses claimed losses topping £160,000.
Judge Shane Collery KC handed down prison sentences of three years and seven months to both men at Southend Crown Court, saying their actions had “devastating consequences” and hoped the punishment would deter future protests.
Judge Collery: “You need to be punished for the devastation you produced and to dissuade others from following in your footsteps.”
The judge slammed Trowland, who had six previous protest convictions, as the “ringleader,” while Decker had one prior conviction. He blasted the pair’s arrogance:
“You clearly believed you knew better than everyone else. In short, to hell with everyone else.”
Protesters Vow to Keep Fighting
Despite the severe sentences, Just Stop Oil spokesman Stephanie Golder vowed the movement would not back down.
Stephanie Golder: “I was horrified by the penalties. The judge is setting a precedent to scare others, but we will keep resisting until the government stops licensing new oil and gas.”
Golder broke down outside court, pointing to the looming climate crisis: “Millions, if not billions, of climate refugees are coming in the next 20 to 30 years. That’s what drives us.”
Defence lawyers for Trowland and Decker say the men regret the disruption and have no plans for future large-scale protests. But Judge Collery noted no sign of their commitment to activism fading.
A Country on Edge Over Climate Standoffs
The dramatic blockade made national headlines amid widespread public frustration at the growing climate emergency. The pair claimed their protest was a desperate wake-up call to force government action on oil and gas drilling.
Morgan Trowland: “I cannot enjoy liberty in a world where our government plans to kill people on a large scale. Drilling new oil and gas wells means death for the most vulnerable.”
With tensions rising between activists and authorities, Just Stop Oil warns that prison sentences won’t stop their campaign.
Stephanie Golder: “When they imprison ten of us, a hundred more will stand in our place. This is the path to real change.”
The fight goes on – with activists planning to ramp up peaceful protests in London this April. They call on the public to join the battle to end new oil and gas projects for good.
