Press Releases & Updates 1999

Rosie James and Rachel Wenham, who on 1st February got on board nuclear weapon submarine HMS Vengeance in the dock in Barrow and damaged testing equipment on the conning tower, appeared at Lancaster Crown (Sessional) Court yesterday Friday 16th July, when trial was set for 17th January 2000 at Lancaster Crown Court, under Judge Livesey.

Defence counsel Gareth Pierce commented, "Let’s hope the trial date in the new millennium augurs well for a good outcome".

Rosie and Rachel objected to the proposed venue of the trial - Preston, on the grounds that the extent of the defence industry in the area was liable to prejudice any jury. They were also concerned that there might be prejudice arising from the trial of the Bread not Bombs* activists in Preston in October. The judge, agreeing to change the venue to Lancaster said, "I’ve lived here all my life. I know the extent of the [defence] industry [in Preston]".

The women now face two separate charges - of criminal damage to the submarine, and of criminal damage to the testing equipment. No value has been placed on either charge as yet.

Rachel’s comment was, "There still a lot of disarmament to be done. The damage we’ve been charged with is just a start."

Rosie and Rachel remain on bail with what the judge described as "prudent" conditions" - residence at a specified address - and not to go to Barrow.

*On 14th May, the 8 day trial in Preston Crown Court of three Swedish Ploughshares activists ended when the jury, after 7 hours of deliberation, could not reach a verdict. Annika Spalde, Stellan Vinthagen and Ann-Britt Sternfeldt, of the Bread Not Bombs Ploughshares group, had been accused of conspiring to cause criminal damage to HMS Vengeance in September last year at Barrow. Their new trial begins on 11th October.

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