A retired doctor who walked onto rail tracks near Drax Power Station as part of a climate-change protest has been found guilty of obstructing a train whose driver had to slam on the brakes.
Eco-protester Dr Diana Warner, 65, was wearing a high-viz orange jacket and waving a red flag as she walked towards the 400-metre-long freight train on tracks just outside Snaith, a jury at Leeds Crown Court heard.
During her trial, which started on Monday, Warner told the jury how she went to the line to protest about Drax’s contribution to the climate emergency and deforestation.
The court was played a video of Warner filmed beside the stationary train in which she explains why she believed Drax is the “most ridiculous power station on earth”.
She could be heard explaining how the plant, which burns wood pellets, is “chomping through so many trees”, adding: “We’re just eating our forest, pristine forest”.
Following the incident, at about 8.45am on 14 December, 2021, Dr Warner, of Filton Avenue, Filton, Bristol, was charged with obstructing an engine or carriage on the railway by trespassing on the rail line, contrary to the Malicious Damages Act 1861.
After it was sent out to consider its verdict on Tuesday afternoon, a jury of seven men and five women came back into court with a note for Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, which said: “As a matter of conscience we are finding it difficult to come to a verdict. What should we do?”
Judge Kearl told the jurors that they should not decide a case based on conscience, telling them they should come to a verdict based on applying the law, as directed by him, to the facts of the case, decided by them.
He told them: “You have all taken an oath or affirmation to try this case on the evidence not your conscience.
“If you are unable to abide by your oath or affirmation you should let me know.”
The judge repeated this response when he sent them out to continue their deliberations on Wednesday morning.
Within an hour of them retiring, they returned a unanimous guilty verdict to the single charge of obstructing an engine or carriage using a railway, contrary to the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
Rosalind Burgin, defending, asked Judge Kearl to sentence Warner straightaway, arguing that there was no need for a pre-sentence report because it is normal in this type of case to impose a conditional discharge.
The court heard that Warner has convictions for obstructing the highway and for failing to comply with conditions imposed on public assembly.
Ms Burgin said her client was facing no outstanding proceedings, has had no convictions since 2022 and had made an undertaking not to take part on unlawful protests as part of a disciplinary process with the General Medical Council.
But Judge Kearl said he needed to know more about Warner’s background and financial circumstances so needed a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
He bailed Warner, of Filton Avenue, Filton, Bristol, and told her she will be sentenced on 25 March.