Animal rights threats woman jailed

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (19th of November 2007)

Dear friends

ELP has just learnt that British animal rights activist Deborah Morrison has been sentenced to 8 months imprisonment for her anti-vivisection activities.

We don't know where she is being held. If anyone knows her or knows where she is, please contact ELP as soon as possible. Below is a mainstream media article about her:

http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.1840677.0.animal_rights_threats_woman_jailed.php

Animal rights threats woman jailed

A protester from Crossways who waged a five-year campaign of blackmail
and terror on people connected with animal research companies across
many parts of England has been jailed for eight months.

Deborah Morrison, 35, of Egdon Glenn, pleaded guilty at Stafford Crown
Court to six charges of blackmail, three of interference with intention
to cause harm to animal research, two attempted interference and one
attempted blackmail between January 2001 and October 2006.

Two blackmail charges involved the company of David Hall, the son-in-law
of 84-year-old Gladys Hammond, whose remains were taken from her grave
at St Peter's Church, Yoxall near Lichfield, in October 2004.

Her remains were recovered early in October 2006 after Mr Hall decided
to close his Darley Oaks guinea pig-breeding business at Newchurch near
Lichfield.

Judge Simon Tonking told Morrison: "It is plain you were acting on your
own in isolation and you were not a member of an animal rights organisation.

"But the fact is that for a period of five years you sent a variety of
threatening letters and emails to 11 separate people involved in
providing services for businesses involved in scientific research in
which animals were used.

"They were innocent people. Your threats were reinforced by sending
white powder in envelopes which, in fact, was harmless.

Your intention, quite plainly, was that they take them as something more
sinister. They were told the expect a visit from a car bomb and death
threats were taken to be just that.

"You were beligerent and ruthless and intended to change the ways
families lived. Through no fault of your own you have psychiatric problems."

Peter Grice, prosecuting, said John Goodyear, a vet who treated domestic
animals at the Darley Oaks business, got two letters and was told to
stop doing that business with animal killers. You have been warned'. Mr
Grice said white powder in one letter turned out to be starch.

Isabella Forshaw, defending, said: "She must be given full credit for
her pleas made in truly daunting circumstances.

"She is a very vulnerable person. She has had a very restricted and
very, very abnormal pattern of life."

Head of the Public Order and Protest Unit for Staffordshire Police
Inspector David Bird said: "Morrison carried out a widespread campaign
of intimidation over several years. She sought to cause financial loss
to companies engaged in lawful business, and caused genuine fear for
dozens of staff and their families."

++++++++

Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407
London
WC1N 3XX
England
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk