MEET THE SHAC DEFENDANTS

GERRAH SELBY

SENTENCE: 4 years

“I’ve always cared passionately about social justice issues. When I was eighteen years old, I gave up my place at Edinburgh University in order to dedicate myself fully to the campaign to close down HLS. I couldn’t bear the thought of focusing on my education, knowing that animals were continuing to be killed inside the facility, and truly believing I could help to put an end to it. Ten months later, my front door was kicked down by over a dozen police officers who informed me I was being arrested for conspiracy to blackmail. I assumed it was a case of mistaken identity; I knew I had never agreed to blackmail anyone in my life.

The prosecution relied on my participation at protests throughout Europe to suggest my involvement in a conspiracy in the UK, and re-branded a vegan barbecue I’d attended as having been a conspiracy meeting. Ten out of twelve members of the jury believed them, and in January 2009, I was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

It has been incredibly difficult to know how to come back from this experience. I have spent almost nine years of my life under various bail, licence and prison conditions, but the sentence never truly ends. Despite still wanting to help make a positive impact upon the world, after being imprisoned for trying to do so, it feels incredibly daunting to be involved with any social justice movement for the fear that it may happen all over again.

Overturning our convictions will not bring the lives back of the animals who were condemned to die inside HLS, nor will it free them from their cages, however it will be a significant victory for the right to stand up to the corporations that destroy lives. It’s by protecting the civil liberties of activists above the economy, that we’ll start to build a fairer world.”

GERRAH SELBY

SENTENCE: 4 years.

“I’ve always cared passionately about social justice issues. When I was eighteen years old, I gave up my place at Edinburgh University in order to dedicate myself fully to the campaign to close down HLS. I couldn’t bear the thought of focusing on my education, knowing that animals were continuing to be killed inside the facility, and truly believing I could help to put an end to it. Ten months later, my front door was kicked down by over a dozen police officers who informed me I was being arrested for conspiracy to blackmail. I assumed it was a case of mistaken identity; I knew I had never agreed to blackmail anyone in my life.

The prosecution relied on my participation at protests throughout Europe to suggest my involvement in a conspiracy in the UK, and re-branded a vegan barbecue I’d attended as having been a conspiracy meeting. Ten out of twelve members of the jury believed them, and in January 2009, I was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

It has been incredibly difficult to know how to come back from this experience. I have spent almost nine years of my life under various bail, licence and prison conditions, but the sentence never truly ends. Despite still wanting to help make a positive impact upon the world, after being imprisoned for trying to do so, it feels incredibly daunting to be involved with any social justice movement for the fear that it may happen all over again.

Overturning our convictions will not bring the lives back of the animals who were condemned to die inside HLS, nor will it free them from their cages, however it will be a significant victory for the right to stand up to the corporations that destroy lives. It’s by protecting the civil liberties of activists above the economy, that we’ll start to build a fairer world.”

GERRAH SELBY

SENTENCE: 4 years.

“I’ve always cared passionately about social justice issues. When I was eighteen years old, I gave up my place at Edinburgh University in order to dedicate myself fully to the campaign to close down HLS. I couldn’t bear the thought of focusing on my education, knowing that animals were continuing to be killed inside the facility, and truly believing I could help to put an end to it. Ten months later, my front door was kicked down by over a dozen police officers who informed me I was being arrested for conspiracy to blackmail. I assumed it was a case of mistaken identity; I knew I had never agreed to blackmail anyone in my life.

The prosecution relied on my participation at protests throughout Europe to suggest my involvement in a conspiracy in the UK, and re-branded a vegan barbecue I’d attended as having been a conspiracy meeting. Ten out of twelve members of the jury believed them, and in January 2009, I was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

It has been incredibly difficult to know how to come back from this experience. I have spent almost nine years of my life under various bail, licence and prison conditions, but the sentence never truly ends. Despite still wanting to help make a positive impact upon the world, after being imprisoned for trying to do so, it feels incredibly daunting to be involved with any social justice movement for the fear that it may happen all over again.

Overturning our convictions will not bring the lives back of the animals who were condemned to die inside HLS, nor will it free them from their cages, however it will be a significant victory for the right to stand up to the corporations that destroy lives. It’s by protecting the civil liberties of activists above the economy, that we’ll start to build a fairer world.”

HEATHER NICHOLSON

SENTENCE: 11 years.

In 2009 Heather was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her role in founding SHAC. During trial she was not linked to criminal activity.

Prior to her involvement in SHAC, Heather was involved in pressure campaigns against breeders for vivisection laboratories which saw the closure of Consort beagles and Hillgrove cat farm.

She is unable to contribute a bio to this website as she received a life time ban on discussing animal testing or activism.

HEATHER NICHOLSON

SENTENCE: 11 years.

In 2009 Heather was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her role in founding SHAC. During trial she was not linked to criminal activity.

Prior to her involvement in SHAC, Heather was involved in pressure campaigns against breeders for vivisection laboratories which saw the closure of Consort beagles and Hillgrove cat farm.

She is unable to contribute a bio to this website as she received a life time ban on discussing animal testing or activism.

HEATHER NICHOLSON

SENTENCE: 11 years.

In 2009 Heather was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her role in founding SHAC. During trial she was not linked to criminal activity.

Prior to her involvement in SHAC, Heather was involved in pressure campaigns against breeders for vivisection laboratories which saw the closure of Consort beagles and Hillgrove cat farm.

She is unable to contribute a bio to this website as she received a life time ban on discussing animal testing or activism.

TOM HARRIS

SENTENCE: 4 years.

“My role in the ‘conspiracy’ was that I helped run the SHAC campaign between 2007-2009. This involved organising protests with the police, replying to emails, and designing the campaign newsletter. I also redesigned the SHAC website to make it more modern and user-friendly. The website and newsletter were both regularly checked and approved by a barrister, who ensured that they only advocated lawful protest.

I also forwarded two emails claiming acts of direct action, which I received anonymously, to the American direct action website Bite Back. This website is a news-clearing house which operates within US law. By the time I had sent them, the website had already received them from elsewhere and had published them.

Spending two years of my life in prison for carrying out lawful protest in pursuit of a lawful campaign has taken an emotional toll. While a large part of me wants to ‘let it go’, my conviction will never let go of me. I can no longer travel to large parts of the world, and so I have had to turn down countless opportunities to progress my career.

Most of all though, I want to ensure that what happened to us can never happen again. We were violently dragged from our beds and sentenced to years in prison by a corrupt legal system. Governments and secret police units were on a crusade to end all anti-vivisection protest across the world, because of pressure from big business, economic concerns, or simply because they did not agree with the cause. ”

TOM HARRIS

SENTENCE: 4 years.

“My role in the ‘conspiracy’ was that I helped run the SHAC campaign between 2007-2009. This involved organising protests with the police, replying to emails, and designing the campaign newsletter. I also redesigned the SHAC website to make it more modern and user-friendly. The website and newsletter were both regularly checked and approved by a barrister, who ensured that they only advocated lawful protest.

I also forwarded two emails claiming acts of direct action, which I received anonymously, to the American direct action website Bite Back. This website is a news-clearing house which operates within US law. By the time I had sent them, the website had already received them from elsewhere and had published them.

Spending two years of my life in prison for carrying out lawful protest in pursuit of a lawful campaign has taken an emotional toll. While a large part of me wants to ‘let it go’, my conviction will never let go of me. I can no longer travel to large parts of the world, and so I have had to turn down countless opportunities to progress my career.

Most of all though, I want to ensure that what happened to us can never happen again. We were violently dragged from our beds and sentenced to years in prison by a corrupt legal system. Governments and secret police units were on a crusade to end all anti-vivisection protest across the world, because of pressure from big business, economic concerns, or simply because they did not agree with the cause. ”

TOM HARRIS

SENTENCE: 4 years.

“My role in the ‘conspiracy’ was that I helped run the SHAC campaign between 2007-2009. This involved organising protests with the police, replying to emails, and designing the campaign newsletter. I also redesigned the SHAC website to make it more modern and user-friendly. The website and newsletter were both regularly checked and approved by a barrister, who ensured that they only advocated lawful protest.

I also forwarded two emails claiming acts of direct action, which I received anonymously, to the American direct action website Bite Back. This website is a news-clearing house which operates within US law. By the time I had sent them, the website had already received them from elsewhere and had published them.

Spending two years of my life in prison for carrying out lawful protest in pursuit of a lawful campaign has taken an emotional toll. While a large part of me wants to ‘let it go’, my conviction will never let go of me. I can no longer travel to large parts of the world, and so I have had to turn down countless opportunities to progress my career.

Most of all though, I want to ensure that what happened to us can never happen again. We were violently dragged from our beds and sentenced to years in prison by a corrupt legal system. Governments and secret police units were on a crusade to end all anti-vivisection protest across the world, because of pressure from big business, economic concerns, or simply because they did not agree with the cause. ”

NICOLA HARRIS

SENTENCE: 15 months

“When the police violently smashed their way into my home in 2007 I thought there had been a huge mistake. It later played on my mind that HLS must have been on the brink of closure and this was an extreme Government intervention to help the floundering laboratory once again. 

Following the arrests many activists were either remanded to prison or living with draconian restrictions. I couldn’t let this incredible campaign dwindle away and so took on an increasing role to help keep SHAC afloat until my friends could be freed from their cages.

Eventually I was charged and convicted of interfering with a contractual relationship of an animal research organisation because I attended a BBQ, wrote communications and promoted protests. My actions combined with persons unknown to me caused HLS to feel harassed. Following two years on police bail and one year under house arrest with an electronic tag, I received a 15 month prison sentence and a five year ASBO.

It is no secret that a diverse range of groups fought to close HLS in their own way. Whether it be PETA, Uncaged, BUAV or the Animal Liberation Front, it was a self-determined movement using a variety of tactics at its disposal.

It is a perverse injustice that an organisation which so carefully followed the letter of the law was criminalised and held responsible for the actions of an entire movement — including spy cops! The prosecutions had little to do with criminality and everything to do with protecting economic productivity. If SHAC had been allowed to succeed, then a blueprint capable of tearing down the systems of oppression was ready to be copied by political activists worldwide.”

NICOLA HARRIS

SENTENCE: 15 months

“When the police violently smashed their way into my home in 2007 I thought there had been a huge mistake. It later played on my mind that HLS must have been on the brink of closure and this was an extreme Government intervention to help the floundering laboratory once again. 

Following the arrests many activists were either remanded to prison or living with draconian restrictions. I couldn’t let this incredible campaign dwindle away and so took on an increasing role to help keep SHAC afloat until my friends could be freed from their cages.

Eventually I was charged and convicted of interfering with a contractual relationship of an animal research organisation because I attended a BBQ, wrote communications and promoted protests. My actions combined with persons unknown to me caused HLS to feel harassed. Following two years on police bail and one year under house arrest with an electronic tag, I received a 15 month prison sentence and a five year ASBO.

It is no secret that a diverse range of groups fought to close HLS in their own way. Whether it be PETA, Uncaged, BUAV or the Animal Liberation Front, it was a self-determined movement using a variety of tactics at its disposal.

It is a perverse injustice that an organisation which so carefully followed the letter of the law was criminalised and held responsible for the actions of an entire movement — including spy cops! The prosecutions had little to do with criminality and everything to do with protecting economic productivity. If SHAC had been allowed to succeed, then a blueprint capable of tearing down the systems of oppression was ready to be copied by political activists worldwide.”

NICOLA HARRIS

SENTENCE: 15 months

“When the police violently smashed their way into my home in 2007 I thought there had been a huge mistake. It later played on my mind that HLS must have been on the brink of closure and this was an extreme Government intervention to help the floundering laboratory once again. 

Following the arrests many activists were either remanded to prison or living with draconian restrictions. I couldn’t let this incredible campaign dwindle away and so took on an increasing role to help keep SHAC afloat until my friends could be freed from their cages.

Eventually I was charged and convicted of interfering with a contractual relationship of an animal research organisation because I attended a BBQ, wrote communications and promoted protests. My actions combined with persons unknown to me caused HLS to feel harassed. Following two years on police bail and one year under house arrest with an electronic tag, I received a 15 month prison sentence and a five year ASBO.

It is no secret that a diverse range of groups fought to close HLS in their own way. Whether it be PETA, Uncaged, BUAV or the Animal Liberation Front, it was a self-determined movement using a variety of tactics at its disposal.

It is a perverse injustice that an organisation which so carefully followed the letter of the law was criminalised and held responsible for the actions of an entire movement — including spy cops! The prosecutions had little to do with criminality and everything to do with protecting economic productivity. If SHAC had been allowed to succeed, then a blueprint capable of tearing down the systems of oppression was ready to be copied by political activists worldwide.”

JJ MULLEN

SENTENCE: 2 years, 8 months

“My alleged role in the conspiracy was that I was a member of SHAC. Over a number of years I attended SHAC protests in the UK and abroad, I used to help fundraise and run outreach stalls, as well as occasionally help out in the SHAC office.

Initially I received a three year sentence for the conspiracy which was reduced to two years and eight months on appeal. I spent a whole year in prison before I was released on tag. A couple of days after my release I was called into the probation office and told my release was a mistake because “extremists are not supposed to get out early on tag”. I was given the choice between prison or a hostel for a while. I chose the latter.

The whole thing from the moment my home was raided on May 1st 2007 to my five year ASBO ending in 2016 took up nine years of my life. This included three and a half years on bail awaiting trial, one year in prison and then one year and eight months on licence. 

Whilst on licence I was banned from using a computer or attending college. I had to attend probation once a week and receive visits by Scotland Yard’s anti-extremist unit. 

The whole process took a big chunk out of my life and I’m still affected by it as I am no longer able to visit certain countries, not just because of the prison sentence but also because of the nature of my conviction.

A high price to pay for carrying out lawful protest.

We strongly believe the prosecution, and especially the police, used unlawful and dirty tactics to secure convictions against many of us. We want to ensure that this will come to light one day so that it will prevent it happening to others in the future.”

JJ MULLEN

SENTENCE: 2 years, 8 months

“My alleged role in the conspiracy was that I was a member of SHAC. Over a number of years I attended SHAC protests in the UK and abroad, I used to help fundraise and run outreach stalls, as well as occasionally help out in the SHAC office.

Initially I received a three year sentence for the conspiracy which was reduced to two years and eight months on appeal. I spent a whole year in prison before I was released on tag. A couple of days after my release I was called into the probation office and told my release was a mistake because “extremists are not supposed to get out early on tag”. I was given the choice between prison or a hostel for a while. I chose the latter.

The whole thing from the moment my home was raided on May 1st 2007 to my five year ASBO ending in 2016 took up nine years of my life. This included three and a half years on bail awaiting trial, one year in prison and then one year and eight months on licence. 

Whilst on licence I was banned from using a computer or attending college. I had to attend probation once a week and receive visits by Scotland Yard’s anti-extremist unit. 

The whole process took a big chunk out of my life and I’m still affected by it as I am no longer able to visit certain countries, not just because of the prison sentence but also because of the nature of my conviction.

A high price to pay for carrying out lawful protest.

We strongly believe the prosecution, and especially the police, used unlawful and dirty tactics to secure convictions against many of us. We want to ensure that this will come to light one day so that it will prevent it happening to others in the future.”

JJ MULLEN

SENTENCE: 2 years, 8 months

“My alleged role in the conspiracy was that I was a member of SHAC. Over a number of years I attended SHAC protests in the UK and abroad, I used to help fundraise and run outreach stalls, as well as occasionally help out in the SHAC office.

Initially I received a three year sentence for the conspiracy which was reduced to two years and eight months on appeal. I spent a whole year in prison before I was released on tag. A couple of days after my release I was called into the probation office and told my release was a mistake because “extremists are not supposed to get out early on tag”. I was given the choice between prison or a hostel for a while. I chose the latter.

The whole thing from the moment my home was raided on May 1st 2007 to my five year ASBO ending in 2016 took up nine years of my life. This included three and a half years on bail awaiting trial, one year in prison and then one year and eight months on licence. 

Whilst on licence I was banned from using a computer or attending college. I had to attend probation once a week and receive visits by Scotland Yard’s anti-extremist unit. 

The whole process took a big chunk out of my life and I’m still affected by it as I am no longer able to visit certain countries, not just because of the prison sentence but also because of the nature of my conviction.

A high price to pay for carrying out lawful protest.

We strongly believe the prosecution, and especially the police, used unlawful and dirty tactics to secure convictions against many of us. We want to ensure that this will come to light one day so that it will prevent it happening to others in the future.”

ALFIE FITZPATRICK

SENTENCE: 1 year, suspended

“I was involved with SHAC for a few months when I was 17, during which time I took part in public demonstrations in the UK and Europe. I was arrested and first accused of being part of a conspiracy to blackmail based on this, attending a barbecue, and other similarly damning surveillance evidence such as visiting a shed.

It became obvious to me that I wouldn’t get a fair trial, so I eventually plead guilty to a lesser offence of interfering with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation, and received a one year prison sentence suspended for two years.

This took up a significant amount of my life, 6 years from age 18 to 23, which I spent on bail, awaiting trial with strict conditions, and then attending weekly probation appointments. I felt at the time and it has now become obvious that this was a politically motivated attack designed to stop, at any cost, what I experienced as a highly effective but completely lawful campaign which frequently went to great lengths to ensure they were operating within the law.”

ALFIE FITZPATRICK

SENTENCE: 1 year, suspended

“I was involved with SHAC for a few months when I was 17, during which time I took part in public demonstrations in the UK and Europe. I was arrested and first accused of being part of a conspiracy to blackmail based on this, attending a barbecue, and other similarly damning surveillance evidence such as visiting a shed.

It became obvious to me that I wouldn’t get a fair trial, so I eventually plead guilty to a lesser offence of interfering with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation, and received a one year prison sentence suspended for two years.

This took up a significant amount of my life, 6 years from age 18 to 23, which I spent on bail, awaiting trial with strict conditions, and then attending weekly probation appointments. I felt at the time and it has now become obvious that this was a politically motivated attack designed to stop, at any cost, what I experienced as a highly effective but completely lawful campaign which frequently went to great lengths to ensure they were operating within the law.”

ALFIE FITZPATRICK

SENTENCE: 1 year, suspended

“I was involved with SHAC for a few months when I was 17, during which time I took part in public demonstrations in the UK and Europe. I was arrested and first accused of being part of a conspiracy to blackmail based on this, attending a barbecue, and other similarly damning surveillance evidence such as visiting a shed.

It became obvious to me that I wouldn’t get a fair trial, so I eventually plead guilty to a lesser offence of interfering with the contractual relationships of an animal research organisation, and received a one year prison sentence suspended for two years.

This took up a significant amount of my life, 6 years from age 18 to 23, which I spent on bail, awaiting trial with strict conditions, and then attending weekly probation appointments. I felt at the time and it has now become obvious that this was a politically motivated attack designed to stop, at any cost, what I experienced as a highly effective but completely lawful campaign which frequently went to great lengths to ensure they were operating within the law.”

DEBBIE VINCENT

SENTENCE: 6 years

“In 2009, I took part in a series of meetings with HLS customer Novartis. I was told that these meetings were to discuss Novartis’ relationship with HLS, and I met with a Novartis executive named ‘James Adams’.

I was later arrested as part of the alleged SHAC blackmail conspiracy. After three years, and just two weeks before my trial, my defence were told that ‘James Adams’ was actually an undercover police officer.

James Adam’s recordings made it clear that I was a lawful campaigner, who was helping to organise a lawful pressure campaign. Nonetheless, I was found guilty by association. There was no evidence at all showing any involvement with any specific crime. 

The evidence used was deliberately misleading, using selective phone data for example, and withholding evidence regarding the pre-organised sting operation against me. Unfortunately conspiracy charges are nebulous and rely on little real-world evidence, and I was found guilty despite the fact that I have never blackmailed anyone.

Apart from the physical and psychological traumas relating to the arrests, raids, draconian bail conditions, the court case and imprisonment have severely limited my freedoms and liberty. When they came to arrest me, the police caused a great deal of damage and disruption to the animal rescues where I have volunteered, which was hugely distressing. 

The state’s fundamental mission is to protect the property and profits of the corporations that control the vast majority of economic wealth, no matter the political, social, or ecological cost. SHAC were a thorn in the side of this capitalist dogma and were harshly silenced by the state and authorities.”

DEBBIE VINCENT

SENTENCE: 6 yeaes

“In 2009, I took part in a series of meetings with HLS customer Novartis. I was told that these meetings were to discuss Novartis’ relationship with HLS, and I met with a Novartis executive named ‘James Adams’.

I was later arrested as part of the alleged SHAC blackmail conspiracy. After three years, and just two weeks before my trial, my defence were told that ‘James Adams’ was actually an undercover police officer.

James Adam’s recordings made it clear that I was a lawful campaigner, who was helping to organise a lawful pressure campaign. Nonetheless, I was found guilty by association. There was no evidence at all showing any involvement with any specific crime. 

The evidence used was deliberately misleading, using selective phone data for example, and withholding evidence regarding the pre-organised sting operation against me. Unfortunately conspiracy charges are nebulous and rely on little real-world evidence, and I was found guilty despite the fact that I have never blackmailed anyone.

Apart from the physical and psychological traumas relating to the arrests, raids, draconian bail conditions, the court case and imprisonment have severely limited my freedoms and liberty. When they came to arrest me, the police caused a great deal of damage and disruption to the animal rescues where I have volunteered, which was hugely distressing. 

The state’s fundamental mission is to protect the property and profits of the corporations that control the vast majority of economic wealth, no matter the political, social, or ecological cost. SHAC were a thorn in the side of this capitalist dogma and were harshly silenced by the state and authorities.”

DEBBIE VINCENT

SENTENCE: 6 years.

“In 2009, I took part in a series of meetings with HLS customer Novartis. I was told that these meetings were to discuss Novartis’ relationship with HLS, and I met with a Novartis executive named ‘James Adams’.

I was later arrested as part of the alleged SHAC blackmail conspiracy. After three years, and just two weeks before my trial, my defence were told that ‘James Adams’ was actually an undercover police officer.

James Adam’s recordings made it clear that I was a lawful campaigner, who was helping to organise a lawful pressure campaign. Nonetheless, I was found guilty by association. There was no evidence at all showing any involvement with any specific crime. 

The evidence used was deliberately misleading, using selective phone data for example, and withholding evidence regarding the pre-organised sting operation against me. Unfortunately conspiracy charges are nebulous and rely on little real-world evidence, and I was found guilty despite the fact that I have never blackmailed anyone.

Apart from the physical and psychological traumas relating to the arrests, raids, draconian bail conditions, the court case and imprisonment have severely limited my freedoms and liberty. When they came to arrest me, the police caused a great deal of damage and disruption to the animal rescues where I have volunteered, which was hugely distressing. 

The state’s fundamental mission is to protect the property and profits of the corporations that control the vast majority of economic wealth, no matter the political, social, or ecological cost. SHAC were a thorn in the side of this capitalist dogma and were harshly silenced by the state and authorities.”