Protesters walk free after conviction

Two protesters have been convicted of helping to break open the gate at a Gloucestershire airbase where US bombers were stationed before the Iraq war.

Katherine Holcombe, 43, and Geoffrey Cornock, 46, were given two-year conditional discharges.

Cornock, from Cardiff, who was cleared of possessing wire cutters with intent to damage the base's fence, was ordered to pay £500 to the MoD.

A third defendant was discharged at the end of the prosecution case after legal argument relating to identification evidence.

'Intention'

Holcombe, from Evesham, Worcestershire, was described by the judge as a woman of good character who was involved, to a limited extent, in the damage to the gates.

The Recorder told Cornock, a countryside ranger: "You, I am convinced, played a more significant role in this enterprise.

"It was your intention, with others, to breach the gates of RAF Fairford."

Prosecuting, Peter Blair said that the gate had been sprung open during a demonstration, forcing a replacement at a cost of £10,610.

Mother-of-two Holcombe told the jury that she had, with others, pulled on one of several ropes attached to the gate simply as part of "street theatre" and had not intended to cause damage.

Cornock, a former security guard who was dressed as a weapons inspector at the protest, also denied any intent to damage property.