Huntingdon Life Sciences hate campaigners
Michel Bowes QC | 21.10.2010 16:52 | SHAC | Animal Liberation | South Coast
Six animal rights activists intimidated companies linked to a Cambridgeshire animal testing laboratory in an attempt to close it down, a court has heard.
Winchester Crown Court was told they targeted homes of staff from the supply firms of Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Thomas Harris, Nicola Tapping, Jason Mullen, and Alfie Fitzpatrick, Nicole Vosper and Sarah Whitehead have all admitted taking part in the campaign.
The court heard all six were members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty SHAC.
Michael Bowes QC, prosecuting, said: "SHAC was no more than a front for the criminal activities of the conspirators over a six-year period.
"It's activities were financed largely by donations from members of the public."
The barrister said many who contributed did not know what the money was used for.
Nicole Vosper, 22, from Newquay, Cornwall, and Sarah Whitehead, 53, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, have admitted conspiracy to blackmail companies and suppliers linked to the Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) between 2001 and 2008.
Thomas Harris, 27, of Ringwood, Hampshire, has also admitted conspiracy to blackmail, but he did not enter SHAC until 2007, the court heard.
The sentencing hearing will conclude on Friday.
Thomas Harris, Nicola Tapping, Jason Mullen, and Alfie Fitzpatrick, Nicole Vosper and Sarah Whitehead have all admitted taking part in the campaign.
The court heard all six were members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty SHAC.
Michael Bowes QC, prosecuting, said: "SHAC was no more than a front for the criminal activities of the conspirators over a six-year period.
"It's activities were financed largely by donations from members of the public."
The barrister said many who contributed did not know what the money was used for.
Nicole Vosper, 22, from Newquay, Cornwall, and Sarah Whitehead, 53, from Littlehampton, West Sussex, have admitted conspiracy to blackmail companies and suppliers linked to the Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) between 2001 and 2008.
Thomas Harris, 27, of Ringwood, Hampshire, has also admitted conspiracy to blackmail, but he did not enter SHAC until 2007, the court heard.
The sentencing hearing will conclude on Friday.
Michel Bowes QC
Comments
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wow
21.10.2010 17:12
Blink and you lose
A hate crime is contemptable....
21.10.2010 17:43
Tell it as it is
Ignore comments posted by cops
21.10.2010 19:08
PS. How unfortunate it is for you NETCU that you will no longer exist before long, looks like the government doesn't see your research via Facebook and Indymedia on who is friends with who as worth spending money on. Too bad for you.
Support SHAC
support for them inside is essential
21.10.2010 19:57
fran
Support
21.10.2010 20:13
End the sickening torture of all animals now!
anon
Guilty and punished
21.10.2010 22:11
Blackmail and intimidation are the lowest form of crime. Disgusting
st. joe
Animal abusers deserve to be blackmailed and intimidated to the max...
21.10.2010 22:43
The fact that they were so desperate to fit people up with anything just shows how massively effective the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign was though. If your campaign isn't effective expect a lot less police/state harassment.
veg@n
@ st Joe
21.10.2010 22:48
anon
How is it a fit up....
22.10.2010 06:57
when the plead GUILTY?
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