Bailiffs sent to protester's home

From the archive, first published Wednesday 7th Mar 2007.

Bailiffs have been ordered to strip goods from an anti-war campaigner's home because she refused to pay £750 in fines and court costs.

Sylvia Boyes, a 63-year-old grandmother from Keighley, told Bingley magistrates yesterday that she "absolutely" would not pay - despite knowing she faced going to prison if she refused.

Mrs Boyes, of Wimborne Drive, was in court under a warrant issued for her arrest for not paying fines and costs imposed following a demonstration at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.

The hearing had been committed to Bingley by Preston magistrates.

Bingley magistrates were told she owed £600 - £200 fines and £400 costs - imposed at Preston court in December last year, for causing unnecessary obstruction.

Mrs Boyes, who was among a group of anti-nuclear protesters, had lain in front of a convoy of vehicles carrying armaments to Coulport in Glasgow for use on submarines. The bench also learned she owed another £150 in compensation after being prosecuted for criminal damage in March 2006 for cutting a fence at the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston in Berkshire.

Presiding magistrate, Peter Riley told her: "You are in danger of being sent to prison in view of your wilful refusal to pay."

He allowed Mrs Boyes to speak to the duty solicitor, Nigel Jameson, about her position and afterwards said she was aware of the consequences of her refusal. Mr Riley gave her permission to read out a statement in which she said she had been carrying out "an act of civil disobedience".

She said: "The transporting of these warheads affects us all and I would be irresponsible if I did not do what I could to highlight the route to stop them reaching Scotland, where they are put on the Trident nuclear submarines.

"I cannot live with myself unless I act and continue to act against such invidious policies."

Mr Riley then told her that under the circumstances they had no option but to issue a distress warrant which would allow bailiffs to take goods from her home.

After the hearing Mrs Boyes said: "I expected to go to prison but I have nothing of value at home to meet the fines and costs."

Mrs Boyes and her fellow anti-nuclear campaigner Helen John, 69, also of Keighley, are due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, next week, to face anti-terror law charges.

They are accused of trespassing on the US military base at Menwith Hill, between Skipton and Harrogate, last year.

Both deny the charge which has been brought under the new Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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