Not guilty verdicts for JSO protesters who slow marched over Waterloo Bridge

Laura Stockdale represented GS who stood trial alongside five others for an offence of interference with key national infrastructure. The offence was charged following a slow march by approximately 50 protesters over Waterloo Bridge in November 2023 that had been organised by Just Stop Oil. The trial took place over 8 days at Southwark Crown Court and was only the second prosecution of this new offence, introduced by section 7 of the Public Order Act 2023, and the first following the Court of Appeal’s decision in R v Sarti & Ors [2025] EWCA Crim 61. GS was the sole defendant who was legally represented at the trial. The trial began with legal argument over the availability of the “reasonable excuse” defence and the interpretation of R v Sarti. Whilst all legal defences were withdrawn from the jury’s consideration, Ms Stockdale argued that the delay caused by the slow march was not “significant”, and that GS (and the other defendants) did not intend nor were reckless about causing significant delay. 

Laura Stockdale was instructed by Harry Grayson of Hodge, Jones & Allen’s / Birds Solicitors.