Five in court after Wellingborough prison protest

Five people are have appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court today after being charged following a protest at the site of Wellingborough's new prison, HMP Five Wells.

Northamptonshire Police attended the two-day protest when specialist officers used cutting equipment to remove 'lock-on' protesters from concrete-filled oil barrels.

Around 30 police officers and two emergency response unit paramedic teams from East Midlands Ambulance Service had been attending the scene.

Of the five in court today, four have been charged with aggravated trespass - failing to leave land - and one with two counts of common assault.

Charged with aggravated trespass - failed to leave the land as soon as practicable - on April 20, 2021 at HM Millers Park, Wellingborough are: Elena Rose Mann, 20, of no fixed abode; Ross Monaghan, 37, of Tinker Lane, Barnby Moor, Nottinghamshire, Ella Russell, 21, of Kings Lane, The Lee, Aylesbury, and Arune Hopestone, 20, from Oxfordshire.

27-year-old Megan Elizabeth Yates, of no fixed abode, has been charged with two counts of common assault - including one relating to coughing at site workers and stating she had Covid-19 - on April 19 2021 in Doddington Road, Wellingborough.

The new correctional facility being built by Kier on land formerly occupied by Wellingborough Prison, will hold around 1,680 prisoners and is due to open in early 2022.

All five appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court today, (Thursday) and were all released on conditional bail.

They will next appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 16.