A Green Party candidate for Bristol has been given a criminal record for taking part in an Extinction Rebellion protest that ground London to a halt in April.
Heather Mack, who is standing in Bristol North West, was arrested during a protest on London's Waterloo Bridge in April during ten days of protests, in which more than 1,000 people were arrested.
Speaking outside court, Ms Mack said her actions resulted in her being found guilty for a minor public order offence.
"I argued that the small, localised disruption at Waterloo Bridge did not justify the impingement on my human right to protest," she said.
"The court ruled that was not justified. I argued that the impact of climate change justified my action as the danger is imminent. The court ruled that the danger and loss of life was not imminent. I have now been found guilty and will now have a criminal record."
Ms Mack later told Bristol Live: "Disruption to traffic was more important than my freedom of speech and right to protest for action on the climate emergency.
"The declaration of the climate emergency in parliament came one week after this protest, so my actions had positive consequences.
"I think it is important for our justice system that people are able to protest freely."
She added: "I would do it again."
Ms Mack said she would most likely not appeal her conviction - which does not prevent her from standing as a candidate or becoming an MP - because it would mean taking on the legal costs of representation and court fees.
"Sadly I don't think I have an option," she said.
April's Extinction Rebellion protests saw demonstrators occupy Waterloo Bridge, block roads in central London and glue themselves to buildings, including the London Stock Exchange.
Extinction Rebellion later went on to stage further protests in London in October, shutting down roads around Westminster.
Shortly after the April protests, parliament declared a climate emergency - one of Extinction Rebellion's key demands - and MPs approved the motion without a vote.
The main parties are now in a race to promote their green policies to the electorate.
The Greens have said they would spend £1 trillion over the next decade on tackling climate change by investing in public transport and decarbonising homes. They have also committed to moving forward the UK’s target for net zero carbon from 2050 to 2030.
Meanwhile, Labour has said it will kickstart a "green industrial revolution" and that it would achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. However, Labour's shadow trade secretary, Barry Gardiner, has since hinted that date could move to "before 2050" following resistance from the GMB union, which has been concerned about the impact on jobs.
The Lib Dems have pledged to plant 60m trees every year if elected to office and want to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and halve today's levels of emissions by 2030.
The Conservatives' pledge to is to meet the 2050 net zero target as well as invest £500m in electric vehicle infrastructure.
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