Protestors who staged a human blockade of a road leading to the Valero oil refinery last month apologised for the disruption they caused to staff and locals living in the area when they appeared in court this week to face obstruction charges.

Five of the protestors who wilfully obstructed the East Gate entrance to the refinery near Pembroke on September 19, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday, stating that it was not their intention to cause ‘inconvenience to the local population’ but felt that it was important to get their message across as part of the Extinction Rebellion protest as governments and leaders were not acting on eco issues to protect the planet.

Forty-year-old Clara Clay, of Brechfa; twenty-nine-year-old Sven Croft, of Bristol; twenty-seven-year-old Blake Eley of Cornwall; forty-two-year-old Manuela Froseh of Llandeilo; and twenty-two-year-old Esme White of Somerset, all pleaded guilty to charges of wilful obstruction of a highway at the hearings.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the protestors formed the human blockade outside the refinery at 5 am by using three concrete blocks that had pipes attached so the individuals could put their arms through them.

“They blocked the whole road effectively so that it was impassable to traffic, and stayed there for around 15 hours.

“Access to the oil refinery was blocked and those travelling to homes were disrupted. I’m not sure why the police didn’t drag the protestors off and open the road, but they left them stay there and they eventually left on their own validation. It seems somewhat odd,” he continued.

Addressing magistrates herself defendant Clara Clay said that she participated in the blockade as the protestors wanted to target one of the largest oil refineries in Europe as part of the nationwide Extinction Rebellion protests.

They displayed a ‘No Future In Fossil Fuels’ banner alongside the section of the road where they formed the blockade.

“I apologise to the workers and community who we have no quarrel with, but we cannot stand by silently as we find ourselves in the middle of sick global mass extinction of which the consequences will be catastrophic,” she said.

“We non-violently took a stand, and I stand accountable for my actions, of which I did not take lightly,” continued Ms Clay.

Fellow protestor Sven Croft told magistrates that the action undertaken was ‘not malicious’ and that it was borne of ‘desperation and frustration’ due to the lack of action from the government and leaders to prevent the ‘impending catastrophe’ the planet is facing.

Both Ms Froseh and White, were fined £40 each for the offence and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge, along with Mr. Eley.

Ms Clay was fined £66 and Mr. Croft £92, with both also being ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a £32 victim surcharge each.

The case of another protestor forty-nine-year-old Paul Hanlon, of Aberdulais, Neath, charged with the same offence of obstruction, was adjourned until October 29.

Last week forty-six-year-old Daniel Marc Hooper (once known as eco-warrior Swampy) of Talley, Llandeilo, was also fined at the magistrates court for joining the blockade of the refinery on September 19.