Jail for animal rights extremist (From Daily Echo)
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Ringwood animal rights extremist Thomas Harris jailed for attacks on Barclays Bank
4:48pm Thursday 13th January 2011 in News
Thomas Harris
THE HAMPSHIRE leader of an animal rights group which attacked branches of Barclays Bank because of links to an animal testing lab, has been jailed.
Thomas Harris, 27, from Ringwood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit criminal damage at earlier hearings.
He now faces 12 months in jail for attacks, which were carried out due to the bank's links with Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Christopher Potter, 20, and Maria Neal, 21, both from Seggs Lane, Alcester, Warwickshire, were also each sentenced today to 12-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.
Potter and Neal were also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
The three conspired to attack four branches in Hampshire in 2008 by daubing graffiti such as ''murderers'' and ''scum'' on doors and gluing post boxes and cash machine slots.
They also painted ''ALF'' - standing for Animal Liberation Front - on the side of the buildings.
In addition, they damaged a car belonging to someone they mistakenly thought had links to a company supplying HLS during the conspiracy, causing damage costing £7,500 to repair.
A van belonging to FedEx, another Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac) target, was also attacked by the extremists.
Roger Climie, prosecuting, said that Harris was in charge of Shac at the time of these attacks.
He is already serving a four-year jail term for conspiracy to blackmail companies linked to HLS in an attempt to close it down.
His sentence today is consecutive to the term he is already serving.
Mr Climie added that it was accepted that Harris was abroad at the time of two of the bank attacks.
Sentencing the three defendants at Winchester Crown Court, Judge Keith Cutler said: ''Each of you have pleaded guilty to a conspiracy which, quite frankly, reflects an appalling period of behaviour.''
He described Potter and Neal as ''young and idealistic'' and added: ''I hope when you look at yourselves two years ago you recoil in horror and think 'What on Earth was I doing?'.
''I hope it will haunt you for the rest of your life.''
Mr Climie said Shac had a facade as a law-abiding protest group but a number of members were involved in its secret but illegal activities.
He said: ''This was an organisation where the numbers privy to the events taking place behind the scenes were comparatively small.''
Barclays said it no longer had links to HLS but did through its asset management business when the attacks took place.
The hearing is the latest in a series of prosecutions of people linked to Shac.
In October last year, six activists, including Harris and his girlfriend Nicola Tapping, were sentenced for their part in attempts to close HLS down.
Other members of Shac, including founder members Gregg Avery, Natasha Avery and Heather Nicholson, were given lengthy jail terms in January 2009 for blackmailing companies linked to HLS.
Comments(18)
SotonLad
says...
5:16pm Thu 13 Jan 11
fraggled wrote:Agreed
Good.... should have been given longer inside
Stillness
says...
5:48pm Thu 13 Jan 11
SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.
fraggled wrote:Agreed
Good.... should have been given longer inside
fraggled
says...
5:53pm Thu 13 Jan 11
Stillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.
SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
arthur boutfaith
says...
6:06pm Thu 13 Jan 11
fraggled wrote:It shows
Stillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.
SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
fraggled
says...
6:12pm Thu 13 Jan 11
arthur boutfaith wrote:I am prepared to take part in such trial so that the findings may help other people and all you can do is make a joke of it. KNOB.
fraggled wrote:It showsStillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
Stillness
says...
6:43pm Thu 13 Jan 11
fraggled wrote:Experiments, KNOB, tell me more.
arthur boutfaith wrote:I am prepared to take part in such trial so that the findings may help other people and all you can do is make a joke of it. KNOB.
fraggled wrote:It showsStillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
arthur boutfaith
says...
8:46pm Thu 13 Jan 11
fraggled wrote:Perhaps you could ask them if you could take part in a trial for an anger control drug?
arthur boutfaith wrote:I am prepared to take part in such trial so that the findings may help other people and all you can do is make a joke of it. KNOB.
fraggled wrote:It showsStillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
Patrick80's
says...
5:28am Fri 14 Jan 11
arthur boutfaith wrote:Are the experiments meant to help indivuals with small knobs lead more fulfilling lives and be better members of society ? Me thinks you should both volunteer !
fraggled wrote:Perhaps you could ask them if you could take part in a trial for an anger control drug?
arthur boutfaith wrote:I am prepared to take part in such trial so that the findings may help other people and all you can do is make a joke of it. KNOB.
fraggled wrote:It showsStillness wrote:Whether you support the testing on animals or not does not alter the crimes that this group of people have committed. Besides, I already participate in medical trials.SotonLad wrote:Huntington are looking to start experimenting on humans. I've sent them your details lol.fraggled wrote: Good.... should have been given longer insideAgreed
The Wickham Man
says...
6:38am Fri 14 Jan 11
fraggled
says...
7:18am Fri 14 Jan 11
The Wickham Man wrote:Exactly my point; his actions against the workers (or associated companies/workers) were wrong and can not be condoned. The fact he disagreed with what they were doing does not mean he can terrorise or blackmail them.
I think I'll go and burn his house down and terrorise his kids while he's inside. See how he likes it.
.
Oh, and for those who wanted to know, I have undergone trials for antibiotics, various skin creams and a patch to assist people to stop smoking.
Higginz
says...
8:22am Fri 14 Jan 11
fraggled wrote:Did they smear the creams on your eyes as part of the test? Did they deliberately infect you with life-threatening and delibitating illnesses to test the antibiotics? Ever been strapped down and had a blow-torch passed over your skin as part of the tests?
The Wickham Man wrote: I think I'll go and burn his house down and terrorise his kids while he's inside. See how he likes it.Exactly my point; his actions against the workers (or associated companies/workers) were wrong and can not be condoned. The fact he disagreed with what they were doing does not mean he can terrorise or blackmail them. . Oh, and for those who wanted to know, I have undergone trials for antibiotics, various skin creams and a patch to assist people to stop smoking.
The Wickham Man
says...
10:26am Fri 14 Jan 11
Higginz wrote:Have you ever just swallowed hearsay and rumour without actually assessing it in context? Have you ever watched a child dying slowly from cystic fibrosis? Have you ever terrorised a dedicated hard working employee who worked hard to find cures for the most desperate and unlucky people in humanity? I know you can answer yes to at least two of those questions, you self righteous deluded hypocrite.
fraggled wrote:Did they smear the creams on your eyes as part of the test? Did they deliberately infect you with life-threatening and delibitating illnesses to test the antibiotics? Ever been strapped down and had a blow-torch passed over your skin as part of the tests?
The Wickham Man wrote: I think I'll go and burn his house down and terrorise his kids while he's inside. See how he likes it.Exactly my point; his actions against the workers (or associated companies/workers) were wrong and can not be condoned. The fact he disagreed with what they were doing does not mean he can terrorise or blackmail them. . Oh, and for those who wanted to know, I have undergone trials for antibiotics, various skin creams and a patch to assist people to stop smoking.
Higginz
says...
10:54am Fri 14 Jan 11
The Wickham Man wrote:Probably, no and no. Rudeness and presumption make you sound desperate. I've read your posts and know you're smarter than that.
Higginz wrote:Have you ever just swallowed hearsay and rumour without actually assessing it in context? Have you ever watched a child dying slowly from cystic fibrosis? Have you ever terrorised a dedicated hard working employee who worked hard to find cures for the most desperate and unlucky people in humanity? I know you can answer yes to at least two of those questions, you self righteous deluded hypocrite.fraggled wrote:Did they smear the creams on your eyes as part of the test? Did they deliberately infect you with life-threatening and delibitating illnesses to test the antibiotics? Ever been strapped down and had a blow-torch passed over your skin as part of the tests?The Wickham Man wrote: I think I'll go and burn his house down and terrorise his kids while he's inside. See how he likes it.Exactly my point; his actions against the workers (or associated companies/workers) were wrong and can not be condoned. The fact he disagreed with what they were doing does not mean he can terrorise or blackmail them. . Oh, and for those who wanted to know, I have undergone trials for antibiotics, various skin creams and a patch to assist people to stop smoking.
The Wickham Man
says...
5:00pm Fri 14 Jan 11
These vicious uneducated psychotic terrorists posing as animal lovers while motivated solely by hate and envy nad contributing nothing at all the humanity deserve every miserable day they spend inside.
clausentum
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5:25pm Fri 14 Jan 11
The Wickham Man wrote:The other poster is right. You are "smart". I await with interest their equally-smart response to you.
Not desperate H, but angry at the smearing of scientists and researchers who are often portrayed as evil and callous but are actually very dedicated and caring (and very bright) idealistic young graduates who often dedicate huge amounts of time in pursuit of a very specific piece of research data that could lead to a cure. The research is not random these days but extremely detailed and targetted. Many researchers now work at a molecular level and animal testing forms a very small but vital part of the overall testing process. it is never performed for cosmetics, it is never performed unless necessary and it is never performed at all unless the research reaches an advanced stage of testing. Portraying techniques used in the 1950s and 1960s as though they are somehow still relevant today is as helpful and accurate as pretending we still hang people in prisons. Remember, a biochemist or microbiologist has often spent upwards of 10 years in a specific area of research, If they recommend animal testing on a project to a lab director or scientific officer there is usually compelling reason to do so.
These vicious uneducated psychotic terrorists posing as animal lovers while motivated solely by hate and envy nad contributing nothing at all the humanity deserve every miserable day they spend inside.
It is always worthwhile trying to discover or unearth the real motivation behind protesters who use criminality or violence to support their cause.
Their crusade is light years apart from peaceful, non-criminal and non-violent campaigns of protest.
The Wickham Man
says...
7:25pm Fri 14 Jan 11
clausentum
says...
7:41pm Fri 14 Jan 11
The Wickham Man wrote:No irony. Genuine sentiment.
Well thank you Claus - that rare compliment has quite cheered me up(unless of course I missed some very subtle irony :-) )
(Your posting on the jailing of the student lobbing the fire extinguisher suggests some contradictory-thinki
ng.? I question that from a genuine enquiry and not from undeclared or hidden cynicism. You may well be able to square the circle?)
fraggled says...
4:56pm Thu 13 Jan 11