He's arguably the last man you'd expect to be serving time in prison. In his dog collar, jacket and glasses, Reverend Mark Coleman fits the classic image of a vicar.
But he's just got out of prison, where his fellow inmates dubbed him The Old Man. In April Mr Coleman, 64, was given five weeks for his part in a climate change protest that brought the City of London to a standstill.
He was one of the Just Stop Oil protestors who sat in the road at the Bishopsgate junction during a two hour protest in October. Known to friends and former parishioners as the retired Vicar of Rochdale, Mr Coleman stood down from the church in February 2022 due to ill health.
Since then he has become a prominent environmental activist, known as the 'Rochdale Rebel'. But, on April 20, his actions landed him in prison when a judge at Inner London Crown Court sentenced him to five weeks in prison for causing a public nuisance, reports the M.E.N.
After being taken down from the dock Mr Coleman, dressed in his clerical shirt and collar, was sent to HMP Thameside, a category B prison in Greenwich, south London, where fellow inmates were serving time for firearms, robbery, drugs and sexual offences. A bible he'd taken with him was confiscated on entry.
He changed into prison issue sweatshirt and pants and was placed in the over-40s D wing in cell 19. His cellmate, an experienced lag with around 15 years of prison time under his belt, quickly took Mr Coleman under his wing.
"He gave me some good advice on how to get things in prison," said Mr Coleman. "He told me sometimes you have to stand up for yourself. He would tell the guards he was looking after the 'Old Man', that's what he called me."
The sparse cell contained a sink and a toilet and shower, covered by a modesty curtain. The view from the first floor window was of the notorious Belmarsh prison next door, home to criminals such as Lee Rigby killer Michael Adebolajo, as well as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
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Inside, Mr Coleman was something of a novelty. He says the other prisoners were 'intrigued and amused' at having a vicar in their midst.
One day a fellow prisoner approached him with a copy of The Sun in which the retired vicar was pictured at a protest with his hands glued to the road. "I think that earned me some respect, or maybe it was just amusement," he said.
Inmates were given 30 minutes exercise and 30 to 45 minutes of social time per day. Mr Coleman says he spent the time talking with other prisoners or playing chess.
But with the rest of the day confined to cells, Mr Coleman says he had a lot of time to 'think and reflect'. "A part of me quite enjoyed that," he said.
Prison food was 'lots of boiled potatoes'. "I was very grateful for it, but it wasn't delicious." But he found comfort in the hundreds of emails, cards and letters he received from well-wishers and supporters during his short time inside.
"Prison is a bleak place, but I never felt afraid for my safety, I never felt isolated, I didn't witness any violence," said Mr Coleman. "It gave me a great insight into the life of prisoners.
"There were many people in there in really grim situations, just waiting for something to happen with their cases. And there were certainly people with mental health problems, people who were troubled.
"But there was another Insulate Britain protester who had been sent to the same prison, so there was somebody there who I knew which was a help. And when you're walking round and round the exercise yard there's not much to do other than talk, so I can say I was beginning to develop friendships."
Mr Coleman was released after serving half of his five-week sentence. Carrying a bin bag containing the few possessions he went in with, he got dressed into his clerical shirt and collar and was met at the prison gates by friends from Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil.
Soon he was heading back home to Rochdale to his wife and family - and to his first meeting with his probation officer. He'll spend the next two weeks on licence and will have to attend probation meetings for the rest of the year.
And, while his release came a huge relief, Mr Coleman says his time in prison will not stop him from protesting again in the future.
"I'm not complaining," he said. "I took action which led to me going to prison.
"But I was in a privileged position. I don't work, so there is no pressure of losing my job by going to prison. I had the privilege of being able to stand up and tell the truth.
"There have been lots of moments of fear, doubt and anxiety, but I am driven by the reality of what's happening to our climate. I cannot let that pass and not take action.
"The thought of more prison, more court, more police cells is scary, but I have no doubt I would block the road again. The stakes are just too high."
