PROTESTER Cynthia O'Neill was arrested at a cat breeding farm, near Witney, and charged by police under a new anti-stalking law, she revealed today.

Mrs O'Neill, 59, has been protesting for years at the farm in Minster Lovell, where cats are bred for pharmaceutical research.

The leading member of the Save The Hillgrove Cats Campaign, from Milton-under-Wychwood, was arrested about 4pm yesterday after allegedly using a megaphone at the entrance to the site, when staff were leaving work.

Mrs O'Neill was taken to Witney police station and charged under section two of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which was introduced last year to clamp down on stalkers.

Mrs O'Neill is understood to be the first protester from the Save The Hillgrove Cats Campaign to be charged under the new act.

Thames Valley Police recently announced Operation Stile, with a team of officers policing demonstrations at the farm.

The cost of policing an increasing number of large-scale demonstrations has now reached about £400,000 and police chiefs are hoping to find a permanent solution to the stand-off, which is placing a huge strain on resources.

Mrs O'Neill said: "I believe I am the first demonstrator to be charged under the new act. I have been doing this for years and have no plans to stop."

She was with a dozen demonstrators from Bristol when she was arrested. Recently her car was damaged in a vandal attack.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Mrs O'Neill was arrested at the farm and charged under section two of the Protection from Harassment Act."

She was bailed to appear before Witney magistrates on March 5.

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