Among the convicted was Just Stop Oil co-founder Roger Hallam. The activists faced charges of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance after disrupting traffic by climbing gantries above the motorway in November 2022. Their prosecution is part of a broader crackdown on protest movements in Britain and across Europe.

The activists pleaded not guilty but were convicted after a tumultuous trial at London's Southwark Crown Court, where some defendants were arrested for defying the judge's rulings on their evidence. Judge Christopher Hehir described the protest as causing "an unprecedented level of deliberate disruption" and accused Hallam of trying to "turn the trial into a piece of direct action protest."

Outside the court, protesters holding placards were also arrested for alleged contempt of court. However, proceedings against the 11 arrested protesters were later dropped.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward highlighted the significant impact of the protests, estimating an economic cost of at least £770,000 ($1 million) and causing delays for thousands of people. Judge Hehir condemned the activists' actions, stating, "This was a conspiracy to cause extreme and disproportionate disruption. Each of you has some time ago crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic."