Refresh automatically On | Off 10:20AM Jonathan Humphries MORNING
I am in Liverpool Crown Court today for an appeal by five so-called Love Activists against their jail terms.
The defendants were locked up after illegally occupying the old Bank of England building in Castle Street, Liverpool city centre, in protest against lack of support for the homeless.
John Hall, 50; John Rice, 23; Chelsea Stafford, 19; and James Jones, 20, were given 10 weeks behind bars at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
James Allanson, 20, who was also sentenced over an incident in Everton Park, was locked up for 13 weeks last Thursday.
A minimum of £91,573 was spent in policing the protest, while the operation to arrest the protesters cost around £27,000.
While supporters of the group claim they were genuine political activists, District Judge Andrew Shaw said: “None of the defendants have done any work in the community to benefit the homeless.
“There is a genuine lack of sincerity in their actions, which have the appearance of a self indulgent vanity project.”
The case is due to get underway at 10.30am
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/