Date: 13 February 2009
Man sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy to commit arson
A man has been convicted of conspiracy to commit arson as part of a campaign against Oxford University.
48-year-old Mel Broughton, from Northampton, denied conspiracy to commit arson and possessing an article with intent to destroy or damage property. A jury of six men and six women found him guilty today (13/02)
On sentencing Broughton to 10 years, of which a minimum of five will be served in custody, Judge Patrick Eccles QC said: "This was a ruthless campaign to instil fear to all associated with Oxford University and the building of Halifax House."
The trial, at Oxford Crown Court, heard that Broughton, leader of the campaign group SPEAK, assembled incendiary devices using sparklers, firelighters and petrol. He then used these in an arson attack at Queen's College sports pavilion on 18 November 2006. Similar devices, which failed to ignite, were found under a portakabin at Templeton College on 26 February 2007.
Broughton was arrested at his home on 12 December 2007 after forensic analysis located DNA evidence suggesting he had been in possession of the devices found at Templeton College.
A search warrant executed at the Semilong Road address located further evidence linking Broughton to both offences. The court heard how sparklers were found in a water tank and various documents and lists, demonstrating Broughton's interest in the University and those associated with it, were also hidden around the flat.
Acting Det Supt Mark Jones, of Thames Valley Police said: "A lengthy and thorough investigation has today been rewarded with an excellent result.
"The evidence showed the jury that Broughton's interest in the animal rights cause went further than that of a legitimate protestor. He has been proven to be someone who believes direct action, in the form of planting explosives and setting fires, is acceptable. By doing so, he has shown that he is willing to risk the lives of other people for his cause.
"The conviction today demonstrates that detectives will continue to pursue all lines of enquiry available, even many months down the line. And as science provides an increasingly effective tool in the fight against extremism, anyone considering crossing the line between reasonable, lawful protest and criminal activity should take note."
CPS lawyer Paul Harrison, of the CPS Thames and Chiltern Complex Casework Unit, said: "Although Mel Broughton claimed to be merely a spokesperson for the campaign against the building of the Oxford Laboratory and a peaceful protestor and activist, we produced evidence in court to show that he played a far more proactive and sinister role by taking part in a fire bombing campaign. Evidence presented to the jury included Mel Broughton's inflammatory speeches and his previous conviction for a similar offence, along with his DNA material and fingerprints on the unexploded devices and material associated with them. Police also found a quantity of sparklers, similar to those used as a fuse in the unexploded devices, deliberately concealed at Broughton's home.
"The attacks were aimed at damaging property rather than people as they were carried out at night, but fire bombs are indiscriminate. As well as causing serious damage to property they also threaten the lives of anybody in the vicinity and particularly those of members of the emergency services who have the task of dealing with the aftermath. While our society supports the right to free speech and to campaign peacefully, Mel Broughton went well beyond that by using force against a legitimate academic institution and business in an attempt to further his aims. This prosecution demonstrates that, where there is evidence of criminal behaviour, regardless of the perceived cause, a prosecution will almost certainly follow."
