A protestor who was part of a climate change group that blocked the road leading to the Valero Pembroke oil refinery has been fined in court, after pleading guilty to an obstruction charge.
Forty-nine-year-old Paul Hanlon of Canal Side, Aberdulais, Neath charged with wilful obstruction of a highway, did not appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court as scheduled on Tuesday, but wrote a letter explaining why he couldn’t attend.
The offence took place on September 19, when the defendant was part of a group of climate change protestors that blocked the east gate entrance leading to the Valero Oil refinery.
Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the protestors formed the human blockade outside the refinery by using three concrete blocks that had pipes attached so the individuals could put their arms through them.
He added that the police let the protestors stay for 12 hours, but questioned why they were allowed to remain for so long when Dyfed-Powys Police had the power to remove them.
The court was told that refinery management had to make a hole in a hedgerow to make a temporary passage for vehicles which caused a lot of disruption.
Magistrates fined the defendant £40 for the offence, and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs along with a £32 victim surcharge.