Protesters ‘deliberately, flagrantly broke the law and committed crimes of some significance’

Two climate activists have been handed longer jail terms after a judge slammed their bridge blockade for delaying emergency services, including three ambulances.

Two serial climate protesters who blocked the West Gate Bridge — delaying 16 emergency responses — have been handed extra jail time after a bid to have their sentences slashed backfired.

Extinction Rebellion protesters Deanna “Violet” Coco, 33, and her partner Bradley Homewood, 51, were jailed for three weeks after they used a truck to block three city-bound lanes of the bridge during morning peak hour on March 5.

The pair at the County Court on Tuesday argued they should be released on community sentences, but Judge David Sexton instead ordered they serve two months behind bars.

“The fact is that each of you deliberately, flagrantly broke the law and committed crimes of some significance,” he said.

The protesters used a truck to block three city-bound lanes of the West Gate Bridge. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Whilst you may have been well intentioned or motivated having regard to your strongly held beliefs regarding the impacts of climate change, the methodology you each employed to make your points causing a significant risk and disruption to the lives of others.

“Your sustained obstruction of emergency workers was not appropriate and must be denounced.

“A message must be sent to like minded people not to engage in this type of illegality.”

Dozens of climate activists — who had earlier cheered when Homewood made a heart symbol gesture as he appeared via video link from custody — packed the courtroom for the appeal hearing.

Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions had also appealed their sentences, arguing it was too lenient given the harm they had caused.

Judge David Sexton said the sustained obstruction of emergency workers was not appropriate and must be denounced. Picture: Jason Edwards

The court earlier heard 13 triple-0 calls to police and three to paramedics had delayed responses as a result of the nearly 2½ hour-long protest.

Among those affected was Tarneit mother Roshni Lad who was forced to give birth on the side of the Western Ring Road after she and her husband were unable to reach the hospital.

The couple did not want their victim impact statements read out in court, but Judge Sexton noted they “graphically” highlighted the “significant adverse impacts” of the protest.

“It must have been a very frightening experience for this couple to endure,” he said.

“An unassisted childbirth on the side of the road in the back of a car, thankfully other commuters stopped and assisted.”

Coco, who represented herself, told the court she was “devastated” when she learnt Ms Lad had given birth on the side of the road.

Protester Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco represented herself in court. Picture: Jason Edwards

“As you have pointed out this is a significant and catastrophic event that has occurred during our protest and none of our safety precautions were enough for the mother and baby and for that I am deeply sorry,” she said.

“I’m so, so glad that they are safe and well and it has given me great pause and reflection and learning to change the way I protest to keep our community safe.”

Prosecutor Jordan Johnston said Coco and Homewood had prior convictions for similar offending in Victoria and interstate and both were subject to court orders at the time of their arrest.

He said more than 14,000 vehicles would typically drive across the bridge at the time of the protest and significant police and emergency resources were diverted in response.

Protester Bradley Homewood has prior convictions for similar offending in Victoria and interstate.

Judge Sexton said Homewood appeared to play a “pivotal role” in the protest and his conduct had escalated from previous demonstrations.

Character references from state Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri and former federal Greens leader Bob Brown were submitted on the pair’s behalf.

Judge Sexton said Ms de Vietri’s description of the protest causing “some inconvenience to commuters” was a “spectacular understatement”.

Coco also called climate scientist Nick Abel to give evidence on her behalf.

Homewood, who had been in custody since his arrest, had already served two weeks of his sentence.

Coco had served ten days after she was freed on bail last week but was taken back into custody after the hearing.