Retired Rochdale vicar receives suspended sentence after peaceful protest at Kingsbury Oil terminal

Revd Mark Coleman is arrested for sitting outside the Kingsbury Oil Terminal to demand an end to new oil and gas projects in the UK

Revd Mark Coleman has received a suspended sentence after breaching a High Court injunction by sitting outside the Kingsbury Oil Terminal to demand an end to new oil and gas projects in the UK.

Revd Coleman, who appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday (22 September), was among 51 Just Stop Oil supporters remanded to prison on 16 September after they refused to comply with court proceedings and promised to break the injunction again.

The former Vicar of Rochdale spent seven days in prison in the Winson Green area of Birmingham.

The 51 were accused of contempt of court for sitting outside the Kingsbury Oil Terminal on 14 September, in breach of the North Warwickshire injunction - a private injunction which seeks to outlaw any demonstrations, protests or peaceful civil resistance from taking place outside Kingsbury Oil Terminal in Warwickshire.

Revd Coleman was sentenced to 23 days suspended for 2 years and also ordered to pay costs totalling £412.26.

The conditions of the suspended sentences follow the terms set out in the injunction, not to be in the vicinity of the Kingsbury Oil Terminal. 

Revd Coleman said: “I did this because I know life is a precious gift. I want my children and grandchild to be able to have a future. I want this for everyone. The government’s plans for new gas and oil projects will drive us to disaster.

A spokesperson for the Just Stop Oil coalition said: “Last week 56 supporters of our campaign were being held in prisons around the country. This is unprecedented in the UK’s recent history. This year we have experienced the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the UK, uncontrollable wildfires and water shortages, whilst our government continues to approve new oil and gas projects in the UK.

“If the government won’t stop the genocidal death project that is new oil and gas, then ordinary people have no other choice but to stop it themselves, to protect the lives of their families, their communities and everything they hold dear.”