Another day in court

Well, if you can't do the time...

Following the Block the Buidlers actions on 11 December, five of us trudged our way back to one of our regular haunts yesterday - West Berks magistrates court at Newbury, all to enter guilty pleas for obstructing the highway.

The bench seemed in quite a jolly mood - perhaps it was just becuase it was the last day of the court year and we were the most entertaining thing on offer (certainly amongst the "motoring" offences). The CPS were in their usual pathetic disarray and mumble things about previous convictions for "protest" activity but were unable to produce any pnc printouts, so the bench appeared to (rightly) disregard these unsupported suppositions. They also got some of the 2facts" of the case(s) wrong - but nothing worth arguing about, but it does just highlight how unuttreably crap they are - good job its not a "serious" case.

Anyway, we all got a £100 fine and three walked without having to pay any costs, two politely declined to say anything about their means (which of course are very limited) and the CPS were awared £60 for each (next time I think I may tell them just how skint I am - especially if the net result can be the CPS being refused their costs!). A nice gift from the mags - who seemed to understand what we were doing and why, without any of us labouring the point - and wished us all a "merry christmas". The fines officer was a bit confused by our refusal to pay or make any arrangements but I think we reassured her we knew what we were doing and had it all under control.
Roll on 2007.

jk