Sarah Cook, acted for a client in an Anti-Fracking trial at York Magistrates Court. Her client along with two other defendants were charged with Aggravated Trespass, Criminal Damage and S.241 (1)(c) Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act offences, for the act of climbing onto a drilling rig located on the Third Energy Fracking Site located at Kirby Misperton in Yorkshire; where the three defendants remained for 31 hours.

During the trial, the Aggravated Trespass charge was withdrawn by the prosecution and the charge of Criminal Damage was dismissed following a successful defence submission of no case to answer.

Sarah's client was then acquitted of the s.241 offence following cross examination of the Operations Manager and the Well Site Supervisor both of Third Energy UK Gas Ltd, as during the cross examination it became apparent that the client had no knowledge of the scheduled deliveries due to arrive at the fracking site; therefore could not have acted with a "view to compel", an essential part of the offence.

Click here for the press coverage in the York Press.

Sarah Cook was instructed by Helen White at Howells LLP and shortlisted Nominee for Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards 2018.

For appropriate cases, Sarah Cook will accept instructions from the general public on a direct access basis.