THE family of a 77-year-old activist who has been recalled to prison made a plea to authorities today to find a suitable electronic tag to allow her to spend Christmas at home.

Gaie Delap was sentenced to 20 months in prison in August for taking part in a Just Stop Oil (JSO) protest on the M25.

She was released in November on home detention, but due to a health condition she was unable to have a tag fitted to her ankle, and authorities could not find one small enough to fit her wrists. 

On Friday she was arrested at her home in Bristol and will spend Christmas in prison.

Upon her return, the Ministry of Justice said: “The law states anyone released under home detention curfew must be tagged and recalled if no alternative solution is available.” 

But the family has suggested that there are alternatives, such as fingerprint scanners already used by the Home Office for monitoring.

They also noted that at 14.5cm in circumference, Ms Delap’s wrist is typical for a woman.

“In essence, had Gaie been a man she would be spending Christmas at home,” they said.