Anti-fracking protesters who were jailed for blocking access to a fracking site have been freed after the court of appeal quashed their “manifestly excessive” sentences – and now the focus must move onto the judge who passed those sentences.

Simon Blevins, 26, and Richard Roberts, 36, were imprisoned for 16 months, while Rich Loizou, 31, recevied a 15-month sentence after being convicted of causing a public nuisance with a protest outside the Preston New Road site near Blackpool, Lancashire.

But on Wednesday afternoon the court of appeal ruled their sentences were inappropriate and they should be freed immediately.

What does this decision say about the judge who passed the original sentences – Robert Altham?

According to the Mirror, the judge’s family business, J.C. Altham and Sons, is believed to be part of the supply chain for energy giant Centrica, which has invested tens of millions of pounds in fracking.

If this is true, then Judge Altham had an interest in the matter and should not have had anything to do with it; the fact that he presided over the case would be a perversion of the course of justice.

And moves have already been made to secure an investigation.

The decision to quash the original sentence and impose community orders instead has been welcomed by the leaders of political parties other than the Conservatives, who are allowing fracking to take place in Lancashire:

I welcome the decision to quash the unjust sentences of fracking protestors.

We stand in solidarity with the activists and thank them for standing up to the further destruction of our environment by this Tory Government.

When Labour gets into government we will ban fracking.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 17, 2018

Shadow cabinet minister Rebecca Long-Bailey has released a video going further:

One of Labour's rising stars makes a promise to voters. Under Labour, there will be no fracking. pic.twitter.com/iIxzwoNdJW

— Tory Fibs (@ToryFibs) October 17, 2018

And the Green Party’s MP, Caroline Lucas, made the point that the imprisoned men had been carrying out a peaceful protest and their sentences were an appalling misuse of power:

It’s critical we stand up against the criminalisation of peaceful protest, against fracking & against climate breakdown #FreeTheThree #solidariry pic.twitter.com/8ebXqaldrR

— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) October 17, 2018

This story is not over.

Visit our JustGiving page to help Vox Political’s Mike Sivier fight anti-Semitism libels in court

---

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.

The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: