Sydney Harbour Bridge climate protesters Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco and Alan Glover successfully appeal sentences

An activist who was jailed for a protest that blocked traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge has had her prison sentence scrapped.

Two climate activists have had a huge win in court, successfully appealing their sentences over a protest that blocked a lane on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last April.

And now one of them plans to seek compensation after spending 13 days in prison over the debacle.

Deanna “Violet” Coco, 32, and Alan Glover, 51, were met with more than 100 supporters who marched outside the NSW District Court on Wednesday as they awaited their fate.

Coco appealed her 15-month jail sentence after she became the first person to be locked up under controversial NSW laws which could see protesters jailed for up to two years or fined $22,000 if they block major roads, bridges or ports.

Judge Mark Williams SC withdrew all but two of Coco’s convictions and sentenced her to a 12-month conditional release order.

He noted police had backtracked on their claim that the protesters blocked a siren-blasting ambulance that was trying to get across the bridge, saying that was since determined as false.

Speaking outside court on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Coco said she wanted to “Call the police to account for their lies”.

Deanna "Violet" Coco arrested during the protest.

Deanna ‘Violet’ Coco says she is planning to get compensation over her time spent in jail.

During sentence remarks, Judge Williams said he accepted Coco was not a danger to the community.

The other protester facing court, Glover, successfully appealed his 18-month community corrections order and $3,000 fine, after he was sentenced earlier this month.

Judge Williams quashed his conviction and sentenced him to a 12-month conditional release order.

Ms Coco cried in relief when her sentence was overturned, saying after the hearing that “The last 11 months have been incredibly difficult”.

She added: “My body was awash with relief. We need to protect our right to protest, justice was served today.”

Glover said he had been barred from working as a firefighter while he waited to appeal the case and said the ordeal had been “terribly emotional”.

“I have been protesting in the democratic way, the legal way, for 35 years, writing letters, marching, starting and signing petitions, and the climate emergency is real, it’s happening now. Not enough being done. A lot of talk but not enough real action,” he said when asked if he regretted his decision to block the bridge.

Both activists called for voters to think carefully come the state election next week.

Protests for Ms Coco in December. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Simon Bullard

Coco had earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges including using or modifying an authorised explosive not prescribed and resisting arrest, while Glover had earlier pleaded guilty to disrupting traffic.

Coco was jailed last December for 15 months with a non-parole period of eight months and fined $2,500.

She spent 13 days in jail before being released on bail ahead of her bid to appeal her sentence.

The court heard that during the April protest, the pair stood on a parked truck on the bridge while holding a lit flare and significantly disrupted traffic before being arrested.

Crown prosecutor Ms Maxwell submitted that although the protest did not involve violence, it was not peaceful.

“It was overt and deliberate disruption …. Which can be contrasted to peaceful, organised rallies where organisers confer with police and the public so there is no disruption to the normal flow of traffic”.

She told the court that while Coco’s and Glover’s conduct was “exactly the same,” Coco’s faces “much greater consequences for her actions” due to her “significant criminal history” and being sentenced for more offences.

Judge Williams asked her why Coco was given a full-time sentence when Glover was sentenced to the less serious community correction order, “purely on the basis of previous record?”

Ms Maxwell responded that Coco had shown an “ongoing pattern of similar offending behaviour … (which) shows complete disregard for public safety and rule of law”.

She referenced an incident in October, 2020, when Coco went into a private office in central Sydney and “sprayed the Extinction Rebellion (sign) on the street and glued her hands in the lobby … police had to use solvent to remove their hands”.

Violet Coco won during her appeal of the controversial case. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Protesters outside Downing Centre on March 15, 2023, in support of Coco and Glover. Picture: Alex Turner-Cohen/news.com.au

The crown submitted Cocos’s behaviour has “escalated in extremity”.

In regards to the Harbour Bridge protest, Ms Maxwell told the court Coco was “motivated by umbrage” after her partner was arrested the previous day for running onto the pitch during an NRL game to raise awareness about climate change.

Coco’s defence lawyer, Mr Blair, told the court Ms Coco’s criminal record was “limited” in terms of her activism.

He submitted she had mental health issues which reduced her moral culpability, but this was improving due to psychological help.

“She’s doing constructive volunteer work with flood-affected people in Lismore … channelling all of her energy into lawful action which is critical to her recovery,” Mr Blair said.

“There’s been no further offending since (this incident) … she has excellent prospects of rehabilitation”.

In terms of Glover, the court heard the long-time volunteer firefighter was motivated to protest following his devastation of the black summer bushfires and the climate.

His lawyer, Ms Graham, submitted his client was peaceful, and committed “no damage to property, no injury to any person, no resistance of arrest”.

“Mr Glover participated in an event that would be blocking one lane – (there are) other much more disruptive events,” he said.

“The crown has repeatedly referred to Mr Glover using an unauthorised explosive … It was an authorised explosive”.

Ms Graham told the court the “false” assertion that the protesters blocked an ambulance contributed to their sentences, including the decision to jail Coco.

Alan Glover holding up a flare during the protest.

In terms of Glover, the court heard the long-time volunteer firefighter was motivated to protest following his devastation of the black summer bushfires and the climate.

His lawyer, Ms Graham, submitted his client was peaceful, and committed “no damage to property, no injury to any person, no resistance of arrest”.

“Mr Glover participated in an event that would be blocking one lane – (there are) other much more disruptive events,” he said.

“The crown has repeatedly referred to Mr GLlover using an unauthorised explosive … It was an authorised explosive”.

Ms Graham told the court the “false” assertion that the protesters blocked an ambulance contributed to their sentences, including the decision to jail Coco.

Alan Glover became more involved in protests after the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

During the original sentencing of Ms Coco, the magistrate slammed the then 31-year-old as “selfish” and “emotional”.

The climate activist spent just a week-and-a-half behind bars in Silverwater prison before she was let out on bail in December, with a raft of conditions including that she not go within 1km of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

After her release, Ms Coco attended a small protest at Sydney’s Town Hall where she claimed she had spent seven days in isolation during her prison stint.

“Thank you for not letting me spend Christmas in there,” she told the crowd of about 150 protesters.

Ms Coco said the protest laws, which were ushered following a string of high-profile protests across NSW earlier this year, represented an attack on democracy.

“I’m so grateful for the response of everybody to not let this go unchallenged and it’s the strength of this community which has not only granted me my bail and got me out here, but also is fuelling the challenging of these unjust laws which affect all of us,” she said.

“It’s not just me and my life.”