A Kendal woman who planned to glue herself to a runway at Manchester Airport has been jailed for 18 months.
Margaret Reid, 54, of Low Fellside, was part of a group stopped by police near the airport on August 5 last year. The group was carrying items including heavy duty bolt cutters, glue and Just Stop Oil hi vis vests.
She was one of four people found guilty of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance at a trial in February. A fifth man was found not guilty.
The quartet were convicted and sentenced today, Tuesday May 27, at Minshall Crown Court. The Cumbrian 54-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Nicola Wells, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Four Just Stop Oil protesters have been sentenced today after they were intercepted by the police on route to cause disruption at Manchester Airport on 5 August 2024.
“This was a targeted attack, at the height of summer, against one of the country’s busiest airports, where they planned to glue themselves to the taxiways of the airport and cause serious disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of individuals.
“Whenever the right to protest crosses into criminality, whether by causing a public nuisance or distress to members of the public, we will not hesitate to prosecute these cases.”
Daniel Knorr, 22, of Birmingham was also sentenced to 24 months, while Indigo Rumbelow, 30, of London, was sentenced to 30 months and Leanorah Ward, 22, of Birmingham, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. Noah Crane, who was initially arrested in Birmingham separately to the group, was found not guilty.
Greater Manchester Police said it was in the early hours of Monday August 5 that the group were arrested.
Officers from its specialist operations branch, supported by detectives from its serious crime division arrested the four near Manchester Airport, and one man in Birmingham.
The group were walking along South Park Road in Gatley, as they made their way to the airport.
They were equipped with heavy duty bolt cutters, angle grinders, glue, sand, Just Stop Oil high visibility vests and a leaflet containing instructions to follow when interacting with police.
Leanorah Ward was also found in possession of a handwritten note which detailed the motive of the group; to enter the airfield of Manchester Airport and to then contact the police to alert them of their activity.
They were planning to enter the airfield and stick themselves to the taxiway using the glue and sand, with one main goal; to disrupt airport activity and gain media attention.
In Ward’s interview, she stated that she regretted that their attempts were unsuccessful due to being caught by the police.
Following their arrest, a search of a rental property they were staying at in Gatley was searched and officers recovered several items from the bin including a provisional driving license of Knorr and a camera harness.
Assistant chief constable Chris Sykes from Greater Manchester Police said: “As Just Stop Oil activists threatened a summer of disruption, police forces across the country began preparations to ensure the groups attempts were unsuccessful, and most importantly, to ensure the public were not at risk of harm as a result of their activity.
“Bringing together experts in the field, and through extensive collaboration, Greater Manchester Police successfully foiled their plans. A meticulous investigation followed, and today, we have seen those responsible jailed for a collective seven years and five months.
“This result is testament to all the hard-working officers across the force, when faced with complex and uncertain situations, we will always use the full resources of Greater Manchester Police to protect the public, prevent disruptions, and ensure people are brought to justice.
“Anyone who disrupts the safety and security of an airport can expect to be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and following a meticulous investigation, we welcome these sentences today and thank the jury for their service.”
Senior investigating officer, detective chief inspector Tony Platten, said: “We know this disruption was deliberately planned to coincide with the height of the summer holidays, targeting the public and their families.
“It was vital that we prevented this from happening. People work hard for their time off, and we have a duty to ensure they can enjoy it without fear or disruption.
“Over the last nine months, a dedicated team of specialists worked tirelessly to gather evidence and build a robust case, ensuring those responsible were brought to justice for their conspiracy.
“The group’s actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the impact on the lives of those travelling via Greater Manchester, and I welcome the sentences handed down today.
“Today marks the culmination of a detailed and extensive investigation.
“I would like to thank my team for their unwavering commitment, and our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service, whose efforts were instrumental in securing these convictions.
“I hope this outcome serves as a clear warning: anyone who seeks to disrupt the public will face the full force of the law.”
Rad Taylor, director of aerodrome operations at Manchester Airport, said: “The safety and security of our passengers is always our number one concern.
“What these individuals were planning would not only have caused significant disruption for tens of thousands of passengers, but also a significant safety risk.
“The potential consequences of that do not bear thinking about.
“That is why it is pleasing to see the processes that are in place to detect and intercept plans of these nature worked to good effect.
“We will continue to work closely with the police and other partners to make sure public safety is protected at all times.”
