A Berkhamsted resident who was handed a suspended sentence after staging at protest at Kingsbury Oil Depot has spoken out following her time in prison.
Author Sue Hampton, 66, was one of 51 activists arrested with Just Stop Oil on September 14 and put on remand for breaking the injunction prohibiting protest at the oil depot.
Sue was sent to HMP Bronzefield where she remained until her court appearance on September 20, where she was given a suspended sentence of 25 days if she breaks the injunction again during the next two years.
Speaking about her role in the protest, Sue said: “Prison was a big experience and made me aware of my privilege. Practising gratitude made a big difference, as did the kindness of prisoners locked up for much longer than activists, and I’ve had huge support.
“No regrets. The injunction criminalises peaceful protest and serves an industry that is killing us. We all have to do what we can to resist and work for climate and social justice.”
While she was in prison, Sue’s husband Leslie Tate said: “We are both overwhelmed by grief for all that is already being lost to climate change and by fear, as grandparents, of what is yet to come. The International Energy Agency said last year that there can be no new fossil fuel projects, yet our government has signed off over 40 and plans another 130.
“So we have no hope of meeting our legal and moral obligations as signatories to the Paris Agreement unless we stop this madness. No new oil, gas or coal, and no fracking. I’m proud of my wife, who is a shy and well-mannered person, for doing all she can to turn things round.
“As a grandma and as an author who has written many books for children, she feels compelled to protect young lives. I will miss her terribly but I support her 100 per cent.”
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