22 January,2009 02:03 PM IST | | AFP
Seven animal rights activists who conducted a six-year campaign against companies with links to a British animal testing laboratory were today sentenced to between four and 11 years in prison.
From 2001 to 2007, they targeted firms across Europe that had either supplied Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) or had secondary links with the Cambridge, southern England, company in a bid to force it to close.
The seven were found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail by Winchester Crown Court, southern England, last month.
During sentencing, judge Neil Butterfield described the campaign as "urban terrorism" and a "relentless, sustained and merciless persecution" which made victims' lives "a living hell".
Heather Nicholson, 41, a founding member of the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) group, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while co-founders Gregg and Natasha Avery, 41 and 39 respectively, received nine-year sentences.
The latter pair pleaded guilty to the charges against them, as did 22-year-old Daniel Amos, who received a four-year sentence.
Gavin Medd-Hall, 45, who researched SHAC victims over the Internet, was sentenced to eight years in prison, while 20-year-old Gerrah Selby and 21-year-old Daniel Wadham got four and five years respectively.
Staff at companies with links to the lab were sent hoax bomb parcels to their homes and offices, and received threats of violence and intimidating phone calls.
