EIGHT Just Stop Oil activists have been cleared of causing a public nuisance after disrupting Britain’s largest petrol station.

Michael Davies, Charles Laurie, Phoebe Frewer, Sophie Sharples, Tez Burns, Peter Lay, Gareth Harper and Emma Ireland took action at Cobham motorway services in Surrey in August 2022. 

As part of a wider campaign targeting petrol stations along the M25, the activists were among a group of 35 who also took action at Clacket Lane services in Kent and Thurrock services in Essex.

At Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday, all eight defendants were found not guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance by blocking the entrance to Cobham services.

However, Mx Burns and Mr Lay were found guilty of causing criminal damage, while Mr Laurie was found guilty of possession of a hammer with intent to damage property after two petrol pumps were damaged.

Following the verdict, Ms Ireland said: “I am grateful to the judge and the prosecution for allowing the agreed facts on the climate crisis to have played a part in this trial and for allowing us to speak to our motivations without fear of being found in contempt of court. 

“The prosecution spoke about common sense and I was reminded that, in 2022, I felt that common sense would have been for the Conservative government to stop issuing new oil and gas licences, to show a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and, in turn, to offer some protection to humanity from the gravest predictions of climate collapse.”