Just Stop Oil protester jailed for six months over peaceful march
Stephen Gingell, a 57-year-old business owner and dad of three from Manchester, was handed a six-month prison sentence for joining a slow march with Just Stop Oil activists. The shocking ruling came down at Manchester Magistrates Court on Thursday, 14th December 2023, with Judge Mitchell citing a breach of Section 7 of the Public Order Act.
Protest disrupts London street for 30 minutes
Gingell was arrested on 13th November 2023 during a slow march involving around 40 protesters in North London. The group caused about half an hour of disruption on a busy road. Gingell pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in November before the case was sent north for sentencing.
‘I fear for my children’s future’
“I’ve got no choice, I’ve got three lovely children, what future are they going to have? I really fear for their lives,” Gingell said before joining the protest.
Just Stop Oil blasts new public order laws
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson slammed the use of Section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, calling it a “tool crafted under pressure from the fossil fuel lobby”. Introduced by Priti Patel in April, the law is criticised for harshly targeting peaceful protests while allowing new oil and gas exploration to damage millions of lives.
Legal experts warn against criminalising climate activism
‘Lawyers are Responsible’ also weighed in, voicing concern about the growing crackdown on peaceful campaigners. They condemned a legal system “detached from the climate emergency” and argued people should not be punished for trying to protect the planet.
This case has ignited fierce debate over the limits of lawful protest and government moves to curb environmental activism. Many see Stephen Gingell’s sentence as a stark warning over the right to peaceful assembly amid a global crisis.
