Insulate Britain activists jailed over M25 protest

Insulate Britain's protest tactics have proved controversial

Five Insulate Britain campaigners have been jailed for defying a court order preventing them from protesting on the M25.

The activists, who held a demonstration on the motorway in September, were all charged with contempt of court.

Ben Taylor, Ellie Litten, Theresa Norton, Stephen Pritchard and Diana Warner were given jail terms lasting between 24 and 42 days.

Eleven others from the group received suspended prison sentences.

A number of High Court injunctions were put in place after Insulate Britain's road blockades last year.

• Insulate Britain activists jailed over blockade ban

• Why is Insulate Britain blocking roads?

The injunctions were granted to National Highways and Transport for London following a series of protests by the group.

Theresa Norton, Diana Warner, El Litten, and Steve Pritchard glued themselves to the steps of the court on Tuesday

Earlier on Wednesday, members of Insulate Britain draped a black flag from a balcony in the Royal Courts of Justice that said in white lettering: "Insulate or die."

On Tuesday, four protesters walked out of court and glued themselves to the steps of the building. They were removed by police and taken into custody.

Ahead of sentencing, the judge said the four would not be punished for those actions, but added that it did "demonstrate their anxiety to continue the protest with which we are dealing today".

The series of co-ordinated climate change protests, which called for the government to insulate all UK homes by 2030, began around London and the South East last autumn.

The action caused major disruption for drivers and led to angry confrontations between motorists and protesters.

Police also warned the group's tactics could lead to "serious injury or death".

Insulate Britain blocked the M25 on a number of occasions

A High Court injunction was granted to Highways England in September after Insulate Britain blocked parts of the M25 five times over a fortnight.

At the time Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned that protesters faced "possible imprisonment if they flout [the court order]".

In December it was revealed that policing the protests over the previous three months had cost forces more than £4m.