An extinction rebellion protester who was part of a demonstration that disrupted the production of Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper empire has been found guilty following a trial.

Tristan Strange, 40 of Tennyson Street, Swindon appeared via video link at St Albans Magistrates' Court on October 13 after being charged with wilful obstruction of a highway.

Back in September 2020, the defendant was part of a group that blocked lorries from entering the Broxbourne print works on Great Eastern Road at Waltham Cross.

Strange denied the charge at a previous hearing on October 5, 2020, but was convicted by magistrates.

Between 80 and 100 protesters set up blockades in front of the printworks on Thursday, September 3, 2020. The obstruction ended on the Saturday.

As a result, newspapers such The Sun, The Times, Sun on Sunday, Sunday Times as well as The Daily Mail and The London Evening Standard arrived on the shelves late.

At the time Extinction Rebellion said they launched a protest after they accused the right-wing media of failing to accurately report on the climate and ecological emergency.

XR also said the right-wing press was guilty of "consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas".

Hertfordshire Police confirmed they arrested 50 people.

Following his conviction, Strange was handed a conditional discharge of six months.

However, he was ordered to pay costs of £440 to the Crown Prosecution Service as well as a £34 victim surcharge.