FIVE Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists had their trial thrown out today after the prosecution failed to give its key witness enough notice to attend.

Deputy District Judge Vincent McDade dismissed the case, the first relating to XR’s City Airport action in October last year, at City of London magistrates’ court due to “abject failings” by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

He said that the CPS had failed to give its key witness, the police officer who had arrested the activists, enough notice ahead of the trial, which meant that the officer had already booked a holiday.