As a result of yesterday’s appeals seven protesters have had their sentences reduced by between three and 18 months.
Lord Justice Thomas, Mrs Justice Rafferty DBE, and Mr Justice Bean ruled that the starting point of 3 years applied by sentencing judge, Judge Denniss, was too high. It was reduced to 27 months.
This meant that one defendant had his sentence reduced from two and a half years to 12 months. As a result he and several other protesters who are currently in prison should be eligible for early release in the next few months.
The decision meant that one of the protesters was released immediately and was able to return home yesterday afternoon.
Another protester, who was released last month on condition he wear an electronic tag and abide by a strict curfew, will now have his tag and curfew removed.
The result was met with mixed reactions. Solicitor Imran Khan, who lead the appeals for the protesters, said: “I have mixed feelings because it wasn’t a complete success, but what we wanted was to reduce the starting point of sentencing and that we got.
“We think it’s right, where there is political, peaceful demonstration which turns into violence, I think it’s right that in a democratic society that courts recognise that and gives a lower sentence than for those who are out to commit violence and cause trouble, whether it’s race riots or football hooligans, and for that I am pleased.
“For those that have been unchanged, we thought Judge Denniss had started too high with three years as a starting point, once he did that obviously once he did that he was stuck.
“Those who did get a sentence reduced was because of the extent to which they were involved in the violence. It is disappointing not to get success across the board, but for those who did get a reduced sentence, particularly youngsters, we got them out and they will come out today.
“So, mixed feelings but generally satisfied and it’s well worth taking these cases to the court of appeal and putting that forward I think its essential that demonstrations or the ability to demonstrate that there isn’t some sort of chilling effect.
People mustn’t be stigmatised in the same way as football hooligans or those in race riots, they are not in the same category.”
We think it’s right, where there is political, peaceful demonstration which turns into violence, I think it’s right that in a democratic society that courts recognise that and gives a lower sentence than for those who are out to commit violence and cause trouble, whether it’s race riots or football hooligans, and for that I am pleased