The fracking protesters did us a public service. Jailing them was wrong | Michael Segalov

The court of appeal protected the right to protest. If Theresa May persists with this disastrous policy, expect far more direct actionThere were cheers inside court four of the Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon, when after a markedly short recess three appeal court judges returned to give their verdict. Sentenced to lengthy jail sentences last month, three-anti-fracking protesters - Simon Blevins, Richard Roberts, Rich Loizou - had what they had known all along confirmed by the lord chief justice, Sir Ian Burnett: the punishments handed down by the judge in their trial had been "manifestly excessive". Instead of serving 15 or 16 months in HMP Preston, their release from prison is now imminent. But be in no doubt: they should never have been behind bars in the first place. Related: Court quashes fracking protesters' 'excessive' jail sentences Continue reading...