A Brexit protester has been jailed for blocking trains
running between London and France, causing disruption costing more than
£1m.
Terry Maher, 44, climbed on top of a tunnel in what police
said was an extremely hazardous area overlooking railway lines near St
Pancras International station in March - the month Britain was meant to
leave the EU.
He was carrying a St George flag, power banks for his phone and warm clothing.
Image:Terry Maher caused more than £1m worth of disruption
A total of 88 train services were cancelled and up to 22,000
holidaymakers, travellers and commuters were hit by his 13-hour
demonstration.
It stopped high-speed trains travelling to Kent in
the South East and France, leaving some international passengers
stranded overnight in London.
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Maher, from Camden, north London, was found guilty of malicious
obstruction of the railway and was sentenced to a year in jail on
Monday.
After the sentencing at Blackfriars Crown Court, Detective Sergeant
Dean Percival said Maher's protests had been called "the single most
expensive incident in the history of high-speed railway in Britain".
Mr Percival added: "However, not only did it cost the rail industry,
it also cost thousands of commuters and holidaymakers their time,
significantly delaying their journeys and leaving them stranded at
stations desperate for the situation to be resolved.
"Maher's selfish actions profoundly impacted the day-to-day lives of the public.
"That impact is what he was brought to court to answer for."
