Following his involvement in protest activity with Just Stop Oil, an Oxfordshire priest has had an electronic tag removed.

Reverend Tim Hewes 73, a retired dentist and Church of England priest who lives near Wantage, has had the GPS electronic monitoring tag cut off in accordance with a ruling from Southwark Crown Court. 

He was arrested at his home in November 2022, accused of conspiring to block the M25 with Just Stop Oil. He was made to wear a tag as part of his bail conditions. 

Reverend Hewes was required to lead church services wearing the ankle tag. His trial is scheduled for February 2025. 

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He said: “It’s an enormous relief to have the tag removed and to be able to sleep away from home even though other restrictions still apply.  

"I've been wearing the tag for 14 months, having previously been in prison for six weeks, for allegedly being involved with a peaceful nonviolent protest concerning the government’s lack of adequate and urgent action on the climate emergency.” 

Just Stop Oil are continuing to demand that the UK Government halts all new licensing and consents for fossil fuel exploration and extraction.

Revd Hewes added: “It's hardly surprising that people in nonviolent civil resistance are becoming increasingly active. Daily we are reminded of the developing climate catastrophe which will result in the breakdown of law and order.

“This is a truly horrifying prospect for which I will do everything I possibly can to avoid my grandchildren experiencing."

Revd Hewes, a retired dentist and a part-time priest, who rose to national prominence when he sew his mouth shut in a protest outside the offices of News Corp, in 2021.

Oxford Mail: Oxfordshire vicar who sew mouth shut in climate protest speaks outHe was photographed outside the London base of News Corporation, holding a sign that read ‘Murdoch – the most destructive man in the history of the planet?’ with the hope to provoke discussion around media coverage on the climate emergency humanity is facing.

He said at the time: “I thought very carefully about it and about the physical and emotional consequences.

“As law abiding citizens, there is little that we can do to draw the attention of our leaders to the catastrophe that is unfolding day by day like raging fires and floods."

He was also jailed for 14 days in March 2021 for gluing himself to furniture at the City of London Magistrates’ Court.