Help me afford legal representation & avoid prison

Aim

I'm raising funds for legal representation for an upcoming sentencing for environmental protest which carries a risk of a prison sentence

In September 2022, I took part in a mass action against the abusive and environmentally reckless farming practices of Muller Dairy. 3 years after the fact, myself and 10 others were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage - an offense which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. We're being sentenced on the 27th of February in Wolverhampton Crown Court. 

Whilst I would usually self-represent, the barristers on the case have advised that, due to my existing record, I am at greater risk of receiving a custodial sentence - likely between 6 and 12 months in prison. I am eligible for partial legal aid but, as I am currently employed, I would have to pay £1950 on top of the amount that legal aid can provide. I can't afford this, but the risk of prison is greatly increased if I don't have a lawyer. 

A bit of background:

I was arrested for the first time when I was 19 for taking part in a peaceful public assembly calling on the UK government to take action on the climate emergency. In the years that followed I devoted all of my time to nonviolent civil resistance, working full time for various environmental campaigns and frequently participating in direct action. At 21, I co-founded This is Rigged, a Scottish direct action campaign primarily targeting the intersections between climate injustice and food insecurity. In the years after my first arrest, myself and many others faced increasingly harsh consequences for some of the most basic forms of protest as the UK government began to crack down on the right to protest, but I continued to take action because of a deeply held belief that, when global governments are willing to sacrifice lives in the name of profit, it is the up to ordinary folk to challenge the systems of power that allow this injustice to continue.
A year ago, I took a step back from full-time campaign work as repeated arrests, court cases, and a couple of stints in prison had begun to take a toll on my physical and mental health. I was living below the bread line for years to enable myself to participate in campaign work full time. I come from a low-income background and don't have access to a familial support network, so the effects of arrests and court cases can be extremely destabilising. I stand by my actions and remain committed to the fight for social and environmental justice, and continue to participate in whatever way I am able, but some time out was necessary to sustain myself in the longer term.
This time out hasn't been straightforward by any means - the police have continued to harass myself and those close to me, and I currently have an ongoing civil case against Police Scotland for assault and unlawful arrest. A prison sentence at this point in time would, of course, be less than ideal.

If I were to go to prison for this, I would most likely go to HMP Foston Hall in Derbyshire, which has some of the highest self harm rates of any UK prison. A 2022 inquest found it a 'dangerous and harmful place for women.' I spent a week there in 2022, and it's a place I'd hoped sincerely to never see the inside of again. My previous stints in prison have taken months to recover from, and to receive a custodial sentence at this time would have catastrophic effects on my current employment and on the sense of stability I've worked hard to rebuild.

I'm currently working in forestry on the west coast of Scotland, having spent the winter months re-planting native trees in a glen which endured severe wildfires the previous spring. I am deeply grateful to be doing this work and to have found a wonderful community alongside it, and I'm keen to do whatever possible to stay out of prison.
I know times are tight for most, but anything you're able to contribute would be hugely appreciated. If you're not in a position to contribute financially, re-sharing this on social media goes a long way.

Is treasa tuath na tighearna, bye for now x

This project successfully funded on 29th March 2026