Michael “Mick” Dunk, a serving Somerset Green Party councillor, has been sentenced to 26 months in prison for his involvement in the Just Stop Oil protests on the M25 motorway in November 2022. Dunk, one of two Green Party councillors elected to represent the Frome West division in May 2022, was among activists who climbed gantries over the M25 to display banners opposing the UK government’s approval of new fossil fuel projects.
The protest, which blocked the motorway and caused significant delays affecting nearly 250,000 motorists, took place early on November 8, 2022. Dunk and five others were convicted of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance following an eight-day trial at Southwark Crown Court in October 2025.
Judge Perrins sentenced Dunk to 26 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay court costs totaling £4,380. Dunk had already spent 187 days under curfew and eight days on remand before sentencing, which were deducted from his term. According to current sentencing rules, Dunk will serve approximately 40% of his sentence in custody, making him eligible for release in October 2026, with probation to follow.
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The judge emphasized that the defendants acted as part of a coordinated plan aiming to maximize disruption, impacting over 228,000 vehicles and causing 18,000 hours of delays. Despite recognizing that the protesters acted from conscience, the court found their actions irresponsible towards public safety and daily life.
Just Stop Oil concluded its protest campaign in March 2025 after the Labour government committed to halting new oil and gas license issuances.
In a statement, Dunk said he did not take the protest lightly but asserted that it was necessary to oppose government policies threatening the UK’s climate commitments. He stressed that protecting future generations from extreme global warming was his motivation and that public safety remained his foremost concern.
Owing to sentencing laws, Dunk must vacate his council seat, and a by-election will be held early next year to fill the vacancy. Dunk expressed regret but stood by his actions, criticizing government policies as favoring the fossil fuel industry at the cost of the environment.
Fellow Green Party councillors and local political figures expressed sorrow over Dunk’s sentencing, praising his principles and dedication to environmental causes while lamenting the severity of the punishment. The leader of Somerset Council called the custodial sentence “incredibly harsh,” suggesting alternative community-based penalties might have been more suitable given Dunk’s record of public service.
The incident highlights tensions between civil disobedience for environmental causes and the justice system’s approach to public disruption. Mick Dunk’s case remains a focal point for debates over protest, responsibility, and political activism in the face of the climate crisis.