Fracking site road blocker fined

Barbara Cookson, 66, of Lawrence Grove, Liverpool, pleaded guilty to obstructing a highway.

She was fined £100 with £70 costs and ordered to pay £30 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor, Jim Mowbray, said Cookson was among a number of anti-fracking protesters walking very slowly across the A583 Preston New Road, Westby-with-Plumpton, opposite Cuadrilla’s shale gas site and obstructing the road on April 19.

Cookson said she had been slow walking across the road and when police asked the protesters to stop she “went floppy” and officers arrested her.

She confirmed she had a criminal record involving two previous convictions for aggravated trespass and one previous conviction for assault which she acquired when she was involved in anti-fracking protests.