Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil’s co-founder Roger Hallam has avoided imprisonment after attempting to bring disruption to Heathrow airport by getting involved in an action to fly toy drones in the vicinity.

Climate activists said the aim of the plan was to raise awareness about the impact of the airport’s proposed third runway on the climate.

Hallam, along with Dr Larch Maxey, had previously been found guilty of conspiracy to cause public nuisance in relation to the Heathrow drones action. A third man, Mike Lynch-White, pleaded guilty.

At a sentencing hearing at Isleworth crown court in west London on Friday, Hallam and Maxey were both given two-year sentences suspended for 18 months. Lynch-White was given a 17-month sentence suspended for 18 months. All are required to carry out hundreds of hours of community service.

Climate activists who attended court welcomed the fact that the men received non-custodial sentences.

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While the judge said he was satisfied that all three men were committed to the principle of non-violence, he found them to be “naive” about the risks of the action.

In November 2023 the court heard that Hallam and others planned to fly drones near Heathrow in order to “paralyse” the airport and “embarrass” the government into abandoning plans for a third runway there.

The action was staged by the organisation Heathrow Pause, which called for plans for the airport’s third runway to be halted due to its projected impact on climate breakdown, noise and air pollution, and to open up a debate.