Lengthy Op Leads To Animal Rights Convictions

Wed, 04 June 2008 Courtesy of: NETCU

Two men have been sentenced for their part in animal rights protests which took place in the West Mercia Constabulary force area.

Sean Martin Kirtley, aged 42 of Orford Way, Malvern was sentenced to four and a half years in jail for his part in organising a prolonged campaign of intimidation and harassment against staff working at Sequani Ltd in Ledbury and at other businesses in Herefordshire. He was also given a five year Crasbo which will commence on his release from prison.

Kirtley was found guilty of conspiracy to interfere with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday 14 May 2008.

David Daniel Griffiths, aged 39 of Bridge St, Worcester, received a 30 week jail sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty earlier in the Birmingham Crown Court trial to two charges of interfering with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation. He must also complete 100 hours community service and was made the subject of a two year Crasbo.

Both men were charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. It is the first time the act has been successfully used in a contested court case.

The trial at Birmingham, which lasted almost five months, was one of the longest in which West Mercia Constabulary has ever been involved.

The court case followed the arrest of 13 people in May 2006 during a pre-planned operation. The arrests were made at a number of addresses in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire and the West Midlands. Detective Inspector Dave Williams from Herefordshire Division of West Mercia Constabulary led the investigation which began in 2005.

The original operation involved 120 officers assisted by other national police agencies.

After the sentencing Detective Inspector Dave Williams said: "Kirtley is a dedicated animal rights activist who devoted a significant part of his life to leading an organised, systematic and sustained campaign to target Sequani Ltd with the ultimate aim of closing the company down. In doing this he either personally or together with others, whom he described as "a loose knit group of activists" used a range of techniques to interfere with the day to day running of Sequani and its associated support business partners. This included protests and demonstrations, harassment and intimidation of staff at Sequani and its partners and neighbouring premises, criminal damage, assault, annoying communications and letter writing campaigns."

Det Insp Williams added: "Kirtley also developed and managed a website named Stop Sequani Animal Testing (SSAT) to support his campaign. This action has had a significant effect on the businesses involved and affected a large number of individuals from local communities who have suffered long term effects as a result of the campaign of intimidation and harassment."

The prosecution relied on evidence gathered during the period between October 2005 and March 2006, however, the campaign started earlier than this.

More than 120 witnesses were called to give evidence at the trial, which started on 7th January 2008.

Det Insp Williams went on to say: "I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the witnesses who gave evidence in this case. For many of them this was the culmination of a prolonged period of intimidation and harassment and coming to court to give evidence required a considerable amount of courage. There were also a large number of other witnesses and individuals from the community who assisted with the investigation but were not required to attend court; again I thank them for their support."

"Their evidence was crucial to securing the conviction of Kirtley and I hope that the sentencing today will give them the opportunity to move forward and put the events of that six month period in 2005/06 behind them.

"This was a lengthy and complex investigation which led to one of the longest trials in which West Mercia Constabulary has ever been involved. We worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service throughout the investigation. A vast amount of evidence, including material from computers and telephones was presented to the court in order to secure the conviction of Kirtley.

"The outcome of this court case shows clearly that West Mercia Constabulary and the courts are not prepared to tolerate this kind of criminality.

"We will do all in our power to ensure that businesses are able to carry out their lawful activities and communities do not have to suffer at the hands of such extremists.

"West Mercia Constabulary also recognises the right of individuals to lawful protest and we will do all in our power to ensure that those rights are upheld."