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Jailed Croydon animal rights blackmailer wins protest appeal

7:10am Thursday 10th December 2009 in News By Mike Didymus

A Croydon animal rights campaigner jailed for orchestrating a six-year reign of terror will be allowed to protest again after he is released, appeal judges ruled on Friday.

Gavin Medd-Hall was labelled an "urban terrorist" by his trial judge after posting detailed information about targets on an anti-animal testing website, leading to a £12m campaign of damage by fanatics.

He was jailed for eight years after being found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail in 2008, with Mr Justice Butterfield describing the campaign against companies linked to Huntington Life Sciences as “relentless, sustained and merciless persecution”.

The judge called for the law to be changed to allow tougher sentences for blackmailers, warning the network’s ringleaders were likely to return to extremism when they were released.

But Medd-Hall had his lifetime ban from protesting overturned by judges on London’s Criminal Appeal Court, who ruled the Asbo was against his human rights and right to peaceful protest.

The Asbo, which bans him from taking part in animal rights protests or contributing to websites dedicated to such protests, will remain in place for five years following Medd-Hall’s release.

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Comments(19)

bob grimes says...
1:35pm Thu 10 Dec 09

...Allowed to carry on "protesting"....... or allowed to carry on intimidating ?!?

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PurleyGirl says...
2:08pm Thu 10 Dec 09

Good for him for winning his appeal and standing up for what he believes in. Anyone who tests on animals deserve all the harrassment they get. Those people prey on poor defenseless animals just the same as animal abusers - but you wouldnt see anyone batting an eyelid about those people getting blackmailed or harrassed would you.

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j b wilson says...
4:43pm Thu 10 Dec 09

Yes let's hope he stays within the boundries of civilised protest ... otherwise , he'll be back inside all over again ... nasty man

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shacwatch says...
7:33pm Thu 10 Dec 09

Is this article a deliberate attempt to deceive the readers? - yes he won the appeal but his ASBO was varied from life to 5 years from date of release - so he does 8 years inside then is banned from protest for 5 more years - would the Editor please comment on why this was 'omitted'

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Anon2468 says...
1:25am Fri 11 Dec 09

They need to get tough too on people that harm animals. no need for it.

PurleyGirl: well said.

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john649 says...
3:33am Fri 11 Dec 09

bob grimes wrote:
...Allowed to carry on "protesting"....... or allowed to carry on intimidating ?!?
you mean the people who are torturing the animals?

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john649 says...
3:55am Fri 11 Dec 09

bob grimes wrote:
...Allowed to carry on "protesting"....... or allowed to carry on intimidating ?!?
this issue is to serious to be taken lightly. Animals are treated as property to be tortured and abused, all in the name of "science" - EVERYONE should have the right to protest this and stop it especially when the animals cannot speak for themselves.

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local hh yokel says...
12:15pm Fri 11 Dec 09

Can I just say... I wish this 'urban terrorist' had got twenty years!! his actions went far, far, beyond the 'normal' sandle-toed, bang drumming, whistle-blowing, protest - to behaving like a crazed fanatic... by all means protest!! but not as an urban terrorist!!

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Anon2468 says...
12:58pm Fri 11 Dec 09

what choice do the animals have? its down to us people to show them, that you cannot treat animals in this way. You may think that his actions were extreme, but how do you think the animals had felt? think about it!!!

And the animals cant call the police on the people that are harming them. so therefore someone has to step up in there names. Anyway they may of locked up one person, but there are many more.

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Brian C Sewering says...
1:02pm Fri 11 Dec 09

I agree with scoff
No room in our country for these ppl who as the judged rightly said terrorist should be behind bars no question sunshine

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miss moneypenny says...
5:09pm Fri 11 Dec 09

I hope he is tagged when he is released, he'll enjoy having a dog's collar fitted to his leg so the authorites can monitor his movements x

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Anon2468 says...
10:50pm Fri 11 Dec 09

His not a danger to anyone other then the people harming the animals. If that was you or I harming a pet, we would be done for neglect or cruelity by the RSPCA. So what gives them the right to lock up someone who is trying to protect the harming of animals. With live in a country gone mad. You lock up people that are causing harm to the innocent.

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Brian C Sewering says...
10:31am Sat 12 Dec 09

Need to test medicine sunshine so animals are needed for this important tests and all the scientists have to work under strict rules by the govt. so no need to carry out terrorist attacks against ppl just doing there jobs if you want 2 b a guinea pig thats up 2 u sunshine

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Anon2468 says...
2:56pm Sat 12 Dec 09

They dont need to use animals, try doing some research mate. Thats if you really care about animals that is...

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Anon2468 says...
3:10pm Sat 12 Dec 09

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?gl=GB&v=QZD
Z7s_dtDc

feel free to copy and paste this..and watch.

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Anon2468 says...
5:44pm Sat 12 Dec 09

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=FCef3FCv1
U8&feature=related

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peregrine falcon says...
6:28pm Sat 12 Dec 09

hope you've supported your local butchers by ordering your turkeys ~ can't wait !!!

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mcblount says...
9:13pm Sun 13 Dec 09

We don't cook turkey. We eat out.

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Brian C Sewering says...
7:26am Mon 14 Dec 09

They do need 2 use certain test on animals sunshine its all above board and strict govt. rules in place 2 ensure no suffering 2 the animal im an animal lover so stop the terrorist action or do the bird !

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