Darren Miller (pictured) told District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court said he worked for a research firm hired by Cuadrilla in the early days of their gas exploration on the Fylde.
He told the judge that he had decided to protest against Cuadrilla fearing their fracking process would affect the envirment.
He said: “Whilst I was working for Cuadrilla I thought long and hard about what they were doing. I began with traditional forms of protest such as petitions and rallies but they did not work,”
Miller is charged with obstructing the highway outside the drilling site on Preston New Road, Little Plumpton near Blackpool.
Most Popular
-
1
Lanes reopen after car crash on M6 brings Preston motorway traffic to a halt with severe delays expected
-
2
Stolen car rams police and crashes on roundabout in high speed chase on Progress Way in Blackpool
-
3
Small children rescued from water by RNLI lifeboat volunteers during Blackpool Air Show
-
4
Blackpool Prom crash sees casualties rescued from three-car wreck
-
5
Driver caught 'snoring merrily away' on the M6 near Bamber Bridge with full-beam headlights and engine running
He was one of four people arrested.
Miller said: “It was a peaceful protest. We wanted to make life difficult for Cuadrilla. I was unable to unlock myself when asked by police.
He and three other pleaded not guilty to the obstruction offence.
The four accused of wilfully obstructing the highway on June 30 last year are
Barbara Cookson, 67, of Lawrence Grove, Liverpool; Darren Miller, 44, and Panda Miller, 34, both of Tynedale Road, North Shore, and Lee Walsh, 43, of the protest camp site Dugdale Close, Blackpool.
The four had allegations that they had hindered Cuadrilla staff going about their work dropped by the prosecution.
(Proceeding)