Campaigners admit threat offence

Firms linked to Huntingdon Life Sciences have been targeted

Three activists have pleaded guilty to making criminal threats in a campaign against an animal testing company.

The Old Bailey heard they had targeted customers and suppliers to try to stop them from dealing with Huntingdon Life Sciences in Cambridgeshire.

Mark Taylor, 39, and his wife Suzanne, 34, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and Teresa Portwine, 47, of New Addington, south London, were remanded on bail.

Each admitted a charge of threatening criminal offences or civil annoyance.

This offence was created under new laws and the three were said to have committed the offences from June to October last year.