Just Stop Oil Dartford bridge protester released from jail, says group

Just Stop Oil said on Tuesday that Morgan Trowland (right) had been released from prison, but that Marcus Decker (left) remained in custody

A Just Stop Oil protester who scaled the Dartford Crossing bridge has been released from prison, the group has said.

Morgan Trowland, 40, was jailed in April for three years for causing a public nuisance.

He has spent about 14 months in custody including time on remand.

His co-defendant Marcus Decker, a German national, is still in prison and the environmental campaign group is campaigning against his deportation.

Decker was jailed for two years and seven months for the same offence.

Trowland said "it's a beautiful day" in a video posted on X after his release.

Holly Cullen-Davies started a petition calling for her partner Marcus Decker not to be deported by the Home Office

The structural engineer, of Islington, north London, and his co-defendant Decker, of no fixed address, caused gridlock traffic on the M25 after the pair climbed the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge on 17 October last year and remained suspended on cables for about 37 hours.

Trowland argued during the trial at Basildon Crown Court that it was a peaceful protest and that they tried to "deliver a warning message" over government oil and gas licences.

The United Nations has criticised the length of the sentences.

An online petition started by Decker's partner, which calls on the Home Office to stop his deportation, has about 145,000 signatures.

A government spokesperson previously said: "Foreign nationals who commit crimes here in the UK will face the full force of the law, including deportation."

Morgan Trowland, pictured second from right standing up, joined supporters after his release from prison

The QE2 Bridge was closed for about 40 hours in October 2022 because of the protest

The trial in April was told almost 565,000 drivers faced delays due to the protest.

Essex Police claimed a heavily pregnant woman could not get urgent medical help due to the traffic, with another person having to miss a best friend's funeral.

The Ministry of Justice was contacted for comment.

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