A PALESTINE ACTION activist who has reportedly skipped bail should not have been in prison in the first place, campaigners warned today.

Sean Middlebrough was being held on remand at HMP Wandsworth, south London, when he was granted temporary bail by the court to attend his brother’s wedding.

But according to a report in the Telegraph, the 32-year-old never returned to the prison.

Mr Middlebrough, from Liverpool, faces charges over a break-in by Palestine Action activists at a factory owned by Israel’s largest arms firm Elbit Systems at a facility in Filton in August 2024.

But the activist had been in prison without trial since November 2024, one of 30 people being held on remand for taking action with Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terror organisation in July.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which co-ordinates protests supporting the group, said: “Sean should not be in prison in the first place.

“In an unprecedented move [the Palestine Action activists] are being held without trial on the basis of an unsubstantiated ‘terror connection’ but have not been charged with terror offences and pose no threat to the public.

“They have a right to a fair trial, so should be released immediately, allowing them to properly prepare for their upcoming court cases.”

The group noted that Mr Middlebrough “faced up to 18 months on remand before trial,” adding: “This far exceeds the pre-trial custody time limit.

“None of the prisoners should be on remand and they should be immediately released.”

A government spokesperson said that the police were “working urgently to recapture this individual,” adding: “Court bail decisions are made by judges independently of government.

“Absconding is a serious criminal offence, and any defendant who commits this crime could face longer behind bars.”

Mr Middlebrough gave an interview to Declassified while granted temporary bail last month in which he spoke about joining other activists who are on hunger strike over their conditions and Palestine Action’s proscription.

He said he intended to take part “in solidarity with them and the movement overall.”