Jury convicts environmental protesters over Canary Wharf train stunt

Three Extinction Rebellion protesters who glued themselves to a train have been found guilty “with regret” by a jury in the first crown court trial linked to the environmental demonstrations.

Cathy Eastburn, 52, Mark Ovland, 36, and Luke Watson, 30, were convicted at Inner London Crown Court after halting Docklands Light Railway services at Canary Wharf station.

The trio denied the charges of obstructing a railway on 17 April, saying the stunt was justified because of the threat of the climate crisis.

Watson and Eastburn both climbed on top of the train carriage and glued their hands to the roof, while Ovland glued his hands to the side.

After one hour of deliberations, the jury unanimously found the defendants guilty on 18 December, but the foreman added it was “with regret”.

Extinction Rebellion (XR), an activist group whose protesters are urging government action on the climate crisis, claims the trial was the first to be dealt with by a crown court as opposed to a magistrates’ Court.

The trio were released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced by Judge Silas Reid at the same court on 19 December.

They were arrested during two weeks of demonstrations in London organised by the campaign group.