Two Just Stop Oil supporters who climbed gantries over the M25 in 2022 were handed suspended sentences at Southwark Crown Court today. They took action to demand an end to all new oil and gas projects, a demand which has now become government policy. [1]
Amy Rose Friel-O’Donnell, 22, and another supporter were sentenced to 1 year and 7 months in prison suspended for 2 years by Recorder Martin Bromley-Martin. They were also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, to pay prosecution costs of £978 at £100 per month and a victim surcharge of £187.
Both supporters had pleaded guilty to the statutory offence of ‘causing a public nuisance’ under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. They were spared prison after undertaking not to participate in ‘illegal protest’.
Amy Rose had climbed a gantry over the M25 motorway close to junction 20 near Hertfordshire on 7 November 2022, the first day of the M25 blockades, when the motorway was blocked in at least six locations. Just Stop Oil had contacted the Metropolitan Police and National Highways Ltd the evening before to advise them that there would be major disruption on the M25, and ask them to implement a 30mph speed limit, in line with their responsibilities to keep the public safe. [2] [3]
Speaking after taking action in 2022, Amy, from Bromley said:
“Not in my name will millions of lives be ruined by the continued greed of the 1 percent, not in my name will I accept the 33 million people displaced from their homes in Pakistan and not in my name will the government get away with genocide. No one is exempt from the consequences of the climate breakdown and the people who will suffer the most are those who are least able to bear it. So why do we punish those who are trying to prevent more suffering?
“If you feel outraged by the actions of Just Stop Oil supporters, ask yourself how things have got to this point? Imagine how you would feel if it was your son or daughter being locked away for doing what is right, for conspiring to care?”
Interviewed on RTE in 2023, Amy said:
“It’s not really a question of a price worth paying because I have made a really clear decision in my head that there’s only really two directions that this is going to go. Either we win this fight against the climate crisis. Amazing. I’m proud of what I’ve done. I regret nothing. Or we lose the fight and we are dead, and I will lose everything I love and I will lose my home. And that criminal record, that whatever backlash from the press, none of that will matter, because I know I’ve done what I could.”
Just Stop Oil continues to stand by those prosecuted for peaceful resistance against fossil fuel expansion in the face of rapidly accelerating climate collapse.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
April 26th 2025 was the last Just Stop Oil action, but our supporters will continue to tell the truth in the courts, speak out for our political prisoners, and call out the UK’s oppressive anti-protest laws.
Just Stop Oil continues to rely on small donations from the public to make this happen.
[2] https://juststopoil.org/2022/11/07/just-stop-oil-disrupts-the-m25-in-multiple-locations/
[3] https://juststopoil.org/2022/12/06/19-just-stop-oil-supporters-in-court-for-conspiracy-to-care/
