National Highways Ltd v Springorum & Ors [2022] EWHC 205 (QB) (02 February 2022)

National Highways Ltd v Springorum & Ors [2022] EWHC 205 (QB) (02 February 2022)

Defendants who participated in protests on the M25 on 29 October 2021 breached the injunction order and are in contempt of court. The custody threshold is crossed due to deliberate, disruptive conduct targeting national infrastructure. Sanctions are imposed, with immediate committal for some defendants and suspended orders for others, reflecting individual circumstances, admissions, and absence of ongoing protest activity. No contempt is established for the 2 November 2021 protest as the location was not covered by the order.

Citation
[2022] EWHC 205
Parties
Claimant: National Highways Limited; Defendant: Arne Springorum; Defendant: Ben Taylor; Defendant: Benjamin Buse; Defendant: Biff Whipster; Defendant: Christian Rowe; Defendant: David Nixon; Defendant: Diana Warner; Defendant: Ellie Litten; Defendant: Gabriella Ditton; Defendant: Indigo Rumbelow; Defendant: Jessica Causby; Defendant: Liam Norton; Defendant: Paul Sheeky; Defendant: Ruth Jarman; Defendant: Stephanie Aylett; Defendant: Stephen Gower; Defendant: Stephen Pritchard; Defendant: Sue Parfitt; Defendant: Theresa Norton
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 February 2022
Procedural Posture
Contempt of Court Application / Judgment on Committal and Sanction
Outcome
Defendants found in contempt for 29 October 2021 protests; sanctions imposed. No contempt found for 2 November 2021 protest.
Legal Topics
Contempt of Court, Injunctions, Protest Law, Sanctions, Article 10 ECHR, Article 11 ECHR, Highways Act 1980
Civil Procedure Human Rights Public Law Contempt of Court Injunctions Protest Law Sanctions Article 10 ECHR +2 more

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Parties

National Highways Limited

Claimant

Arne Springorum

Defendant

Ben Taylor

Defendant

Benjamin Buse

Defendant

Biff Whipster

Defendant

Christian Rowe

Defendant

David Nixon

Defendant

Diana Warner

Defendant

Ellie Litten

Defendant

Gabriella Ditton

Defendant

Indigo Rumbelow

Defendant

Jessica Causby

Defendant

Liam Norton

Defendant

Paul Sheeky

Defendant

Ruth Jarman

Defendant

Stephanie Aylett

Defendant

Stephen Gower

Defendant

Stephen Pritchard

Defendant

Sue Parfitt

Defendant

Theresa Norton

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Contempt of Court Application / Judgment on Committal and Sanction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether defendants breached the terms of the M25 injunction order
  2. 2 Whether contempt of court is established
  3. 3 Appropriate sanction for contempt

Ratio Decidendi

Defendants who participated in protests on the M25 on 29 October 2021 breached the injunction order and are in contempt of court. The custody threshold is crossed due to deliberate, disruptive conduct targeting national infrastructure. Sanctions are imposed, with immediate committal for some defendants and suspended orders for others, reflecting individual circumstances, admissions, and absence of ongoing protest activity. No contempt is established for the 2 November 2021 protest as the location was not covered by the order.

Court Disposition

Defendants found in contempt for 29 October 2021 protests; sanctions imposed. No contempt found for 2 November 2021 protest.

Orders

  • Ben Taylor: 32 days immediate committal, consecutive to existing term
  • Benjamin Buse: 40 days suspended for 2 years