A man involved in a 'go-slow' convoy protesting fuel costs has received no punishment after appearing in court. The Stand Up to Fuel Prices demonstration saw traffic held up for around four hours on July 4 by slow-moving roadblocks on both sides of the M4 Severn Bridge.
Gwent Police arrested 12 drivers shortly before 11am on suspicion of breaching a legal notice not to drive under 30mph. One of the drivers, Steven Stokes, appeared at Newport Magistrates' Court on Tuesday accused of organising the protest as well as breaching the notice on the M4 Severn Bridge. He is the only one of the protesters to have been charged so far.
Stokes, who according to the court listing also goes by the name Pickle Doherty, admitted breaching the notice but the charge of organising the event was dropped. The 36-year-old, of Pitcairn Close in Basingstoke, then received the rare sentence of an absolute discharge meaning no penalty at all.
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His solicitor Oliver Jenkins told WalesOnline: "If police reasonably believe there is a risk of serious public disorder or serious disruption to the life of the community they can impose restrictions. One of the restrictions was to travel at a minimum of 30mph and the protesters were witnessed going at 15-20mph, putting them in breach. Mr Stokes was charged with being an organiser, which carries up to six months in prison. The Crown agreed it didn't have sufficient evidence to prove he was an organiser so amended the charge to being a participant.
"He pleaded guilty though we considered a not guilty plea as it's questionable whether police were reasonable in fearing either serious disorder or serious disruption to a community by virtue of someone travelling at under 30mph for the length of the Prince of Wales Bridge. Temporary inconvenience, yes, but serious detrimental impact – questionable. There's a right to protest and freedom of assembly. Police were impinging on that by imposing these restrictions. Was that a proportionate response?
"The magistrates were very sympathetic. This is a man who runs a business which depends on travelling around the UK and fuel costs have a major impact on his ability to support his family. They imposed an absolute discharge, which is the lowest possible court disposal, with no court costs and no victim surcharge – a conviction immediately deemed spent."
Police have cautioned a 39-year-old man from South Gloucestershire and a 48-year-old man from Cardiff for breaching the notice. They have released nine other people under investigation.
Another protest over fuel prices took place on Friday but did not appear to involve a go-slow in Wales despite a poster warning of disruption in Cardiff. Our coverage on fuel costs can be found here.
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