Nine Just Stop Oil activists have been convicted after police foiled their plan to glue themselves to Heathrow Airport’s runway, a move that would have caused massive disruption to flights and endangered public safety.
The group of environmental protesters, aged between 26 and 61, were caught near the airport’s perimeter fence on 24 July 2024 carrying glue, angle grinders, and tools, as they prepared to cut through the barrier and attach themselves to the taxiway — a critical section of the airfield used to move aircraft between the runway and terminals.
According to Metropolitan Police, the plan would have required the protesters to cross one of Heathrow’s runways, posing a serious risk to their own lives, airport staff, and passengers aboard aircraft taking off and landing.
The protest would have forced all departures to halt, affecting nearly 260,000 passengers and requiring multiple flights to be diverted nationally and internationally, the seven-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court heard.
Convictions and Sentencing
Eight of the protesters were found guilty of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, while Rory Wilson, 26, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. Julia Mercer, 74, was acquitted.
The convicted individuals include:
- Sally Davison, 37
- Adam Beard, 55
- Luke Elson, 32
- Luke Watson, 35
- Sean O’Callaghan, 30
- Hannah Schafer, 61
- Rory Wilson, 26
- Rosa Hicks, 29 (not present at the scene)
- William Goldring, 27 (not present at the scene)
They are due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 16 May.
“Reckless” and Dangerous Plan, Say Police
Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, from the Met’s Aviation Policing Command, condemned the protesters’ actions, stating:
“The reckless actions of this particular group would have not only put their own lives and the lives of others in danger but caused havoc at Heathrow Airport, bringing flights to a standstill.
There is a clear distinction between peaceful protest and the criminal activity that this group sought to carry out.
Police also released images of the confiscated tools, prepared statements, and high-visibility vests branded with Just Stop Oil, further demonstrating the premeditated nature of the plot.
Wider Campaign and Controversy
Just Stop Oil is a climate activist group calling for the UK government to end all new fossil fuel projects. The group has made headlines through road blockades, oil facility disruptions, and vandalism of iconic artworks. Their controversial tactics have led to hundreds of arrests and several lengthy prison sentences in recent years.
Despite growing criticism, the group continues to defend its actions as necessary civil disobedience in the face of climate inaction.
