A BRADFORD woman who was part of the Just Stop Oil group that blocked traffic in London last year has been convicted of an offence in court.

Jane Thewlis, 61, of Westfield, in Thornton faced a charge of wilful obstruction of the highway at Stratford Magistrates' Court last month.

The 61-year-old had denied the offence at the same court in April but was found guilty on October 6.

Thewlis, who is a retired social worker, was caught blocking Parliament Square, in the centre of London, without lawful authority or excuse on October 4, 2022.

This was the same day Just Stop Oil wreaked havoc in the capital by establishing human roadblocks on all four sides of Parliament Square by sitting in the highway.

The organisation - which describes itself as a "nonviolent civil resistance group demanding the UK Government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects" - said the group chanted "no new oil" outside Downing Street on the day, before marching towards Parliament Square.

Just Stop Oil said on its website in a release on October 4 last year: "Our supporters will be returning – today – tomorrow- and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met."

The event was in protest at the planned launch of a new round of oil and gas licensing by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), as well as the energy price hike on October 1 that year.

The NSTA announced on October 7, 2022 that it had launched its 33rd oil and gas licensing round, which invited applications for licences "to explore and potentially develop 898 blocks and part-blocks in the North Sea which may lead to over 100 licences being awarded".

Thewlis was handed a 12-month conditional discharge for the offence.

She was also ordered to pay the court £336 in total, including £310 in costs and a surcharge of £26 to fund victim services.

The 61-year-old spoke to the Telegraph & Argus at the end of October last year in the aftermath of a weekend where a number of Just Stop Oil protestors were arrested after bringing London to a standstill for the fifth week running by blocking traffic.

Thewlis revealed she had been arrested four times since the start of October.

She said: “I’ve been a full-time climate activist for seven years, acting within the law.

"But the climate crisis has become so urgent and politicians are recklessly ignoring the scientists. If the government won’t protect us it's time for nonviolent civil disobedience."

Thewlis is due in court again next month.

She faces another charge of the wilful obstruction of a highway, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, on December 18.

It is alleged she obstructed Whitehall, in London last Monday.