Six climate activists who were jailed for their roles in Just Stop Oil (JSO) demonstrations have had their sentences reduced following a ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Background

A total of 16 activists were sentenced last year for their involvement in four protests between August and November 2022. These demonstrations included:

• Climbing onto gantries over the M25, disrupting traffic for four consecutive days.
• Throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at London’s National Gallery.

The activists argued that their sentences were “manifestly excessive”, and sought a review by the Court of Appeal.

Court Ruling

On Friday, 7 March 2025, a panel consisting of Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Mr Justice Lavender, and Mr Justice Griffiths ruled that six of the protesters should have their sentences reduced. The other ten appeals were dismissed.

Reduced Sentences

• Louis Hallam – Originally sentenced to five years for organising the M25 gantry protests. Reduced to four years.
• Daniel Shaw and Louise Lancaster – Originally sentenced to four years. Reduced to three years.
• Lucia Whittaker De Abreu and Cressida Gethin – Originally sentenced to four years. Reduced to 30 months.
• Gaie Delap – Originally sentenced to 20 months for climbing gantries over the M25. Reduced to 18 months.

Appeals Dismissed

Ten protesters had their appeals rejected, including:

• George Simonson, Theresa Higginson, Paul Bell, and Paul Sousek, who received sentences of 20 months to two years for climbing M25 gantries.
• Larch Maxey, Chris Bennett, Samuel Johnson, and Joe Howlett, who were sentenced to between 15 months and three years after occupying tunnels under roads leading to the Navigator Oil Terminal in Thurrock, Essex.
• Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, who received two-year and 20-month sentences respectively for throwing tomato soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Courtroom Reaction

As Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr read out the ruling, several campaigners in the courtroom turned their backs in protest, wearing T-shirts reading “Corruption in Court”.

The ruling marks a partial victory for the activists, with some receiving reduced sentences while others remain behind bars. Just Stop Oil has yet to comment on the outcome.

Further updates will follow as the case develops.