Benjamin Buse found not guilty of causing public nuisance

Dr Benjamin Buse, 35, of Rodney Stoke, near Wells, was cleared by the jury following a trial at the Inner London Crown Court this week.

He was among a group of 15 members of Insulate Britain who staged the protest on a roundabout on the M4 at Cranford Parkway on October 1 last year.

Following the verdict, Dr Buse (pictured above) told the County Gazette: "We blocked the road for about an hour, causing congestion to embarrass the Government in the run up to COP26 (the climate change conference).

"We were charged with causing a public nuisance of obstruction of the highway.

"The not guilty verdict was very good because there seems to be an adverse environment for protest with the new anti-protest law."

Also cleared at the same trial were the Rev Sue Parfitt, from Bristol, and Christy Rowe and Ruth Jarman, both from London.

Christy Rowe, Benjamin Buse, Ruth Jarman and the Rev Sue Parfitt outside the court.

Dr Buse, who works in the laboratory of the geology department at Bristol University, has made a number of court appearances linked to his protests.

Last year he was found guilty of criminal damage after glueing himself to the floor inside Barclays bank in Wells. A charge of causing a public nuisance was dropped.

And he is due to be tried in Taunton Crown Court this year for his part in an Animal Rebellion protest at the Müller dairy facility in Bridgwater last September.