© Matthew Cooper/PA Wire/Press Association Images A perimeter fence at RAF Waddington, Linconshire, where drones are operated.
Judge John Stobart finds six activists guilty of criminal damage with 'heavy heart' and says he would welcome appealSix protesters who broke into RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, home of Britain's first unmanned
drones base, were described by a judge at their
trial on Monday as "dutiful people". He said it was only with a "heavy heart" that he found them guilty of criminal damage to the base.
Judge John Stobart ordered the protesters to pay ยฃ10 compensation each to the RAF, ยฃ75 in costs and a ยฃ15 victim surcharge. He said he would welcome an appeal.
The protesters argued that the use of unmanned drones was a breach of international law and accused the government of war crimes.
Susan Clarkson, Christopher Cole, Henrietta Cullinan, Keith Hebden, Martin Newell and Penelope Walker all denied criminal damage to a fence belonging to the RAF on 3 June. They spent over half an hour walking around the base distributing leaflets and taking photographs as well as planting a peace garden of a fig tree and a vine.
Lincoln magistrates court heard that their action led to the base, home to 13 Squadron, which operates the drones, as well as a squadron of airborne surveillance planes, being placed on lockdown until the situation was resolved.
Comment: These programs may be teaching children with psychopathic tendencies how to better abuse their peers and to hide the evidence. They are now better able to fool school officials while they conduct their bullying in secret. For more information regarding possible causes of bullying, read:
Bullying Linked to Psychotic Symptoms
The bullying epidemic
Behind Bullying: Why Kids Are So Cruel
The empathy gap in bullying