Activists deny damage at RAF base

Peace activists who broke into an RAF base planned to stop B-52s by clogging their engines, a court has heard.

Toby Olditch, 38, and Philip Pritchard, 36, both from Oxford, used bolt cutters to cut through the perimeter fence at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2003.

They intended to sabotage the bombers and runway before the Iraq war, the jury at Bristol Crown Court was told.

Mr Olditch, of Percy Street and Mr Pritchard, of Campbell Road, both deny conspiring to cause criminal damage.

The pair said they were trying to prevent war crimes in Iraq when they were caught by Ministry of Defence police.

'Overall plan'

The court was told the pair entered the base, which was being used by the US air force, the day before the bombing campaign began.

They were armed with bottles of red and brown-coloured liquid and bags of nails and staples which would have been emptied into the planes' engine bays, the court heard.

The pair were arrested lying on the ground after being spotted by patrolling officers.

Prosecutor Peter Blair QC said: "They expected to be arrested; they expected to be prosecuted and, from what you will see, they expected to be sent to prison - indeed Mr Pritchard took a toothbrush with him.

"They also took lots of stamps for letter writing.

"It was very much part of the overall plan."

The case continues.