Two Bristol protesters who took part in an Insulate Britain blockade have been found not guilty of causing a public nuisance. A crown court jury returned the verdict on Wednesday (January 11) in the fourth trial relating to Insulate Britain’s campaign of non-violent civil resistance last year, which was undertaken to demand the UK government insulates Britain’s cold and leaky homes.
Among the four defendants was Reverend Sue Parfitt, an 80-year-old vicar from Bristol who had previously said she was prepared to go to prison and didn't want to be treated differently because of her age. Bristol University worker Benjamin Buse, 37, from Somerset, also walked free from court last week after the case concluded.
They were joined by Christian Rowe, 25, from Southwark and Ruth Jarman, 59, from Hampshire who were also declared not guilty of causing a public nuisance. The charge related to the Insulate Britain roadblock at Cranford Parkway on the M4 on October 1, 2021.
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Insulate Britain said the jury took around four hours to deliberate before returning a unanimous not guilty verdict. Speaking after the verdict, Rev Parfitt said: "Despite all the odds I am thankful that 12 of my fellow citizens were able to see the bigger picture and even when directed by the judge to find us guilty, they were able to understand that the unprecedented times in which we live calls for us all to step out of the box and make courageous decisions. Thank you jury.
“I think reasonable people can see that inconveniencing a few people on their way to work does not compare with the appalling threat to humanity caused by the blindness, stubbornness and greed of just a few people, including our government. We must keep on doing our best, giving our all and obeying God’s calling to us.”
Insulate Britain was formed by six Extinction Rebellion Activists in 2021 with the demand that the UK government fund the insulation of all social housing by 2025 and fund the retrofitting of all homes by 2030. The group highlights the fact that Britain has some of the most poorly insulated homes in Europe.
They believe that insulating homes does not only help to tackle the climate crisis but also can help to reduce the increasing fuel poverty people face with rising energy bills.
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