Crawley man says he was ‘trying to do the right thing’ during oil rig protest

A Crawley man has told a court he was ‘trying to do the right thing’ during a 12-hour demonstration atop an oil drilling rig.

54-year-old Peter Whittick is charged with ‘hindering a person from driving on their onward journey’ after he climbed on the machine while it was parked at Pease Pottage services in September last year.

The rig was being moved from a test site in Billingshurst to Lidsey near Bognor Regis.

Mr Whittick says the movement breaches the council’s operating permits, but the prosecution says it is within its right.

The trial continues next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-42965038