Frank Skinner’s friend and former radio co-host is thought to still be in a life-threatening condition in hospital.
Mr Skinner broke down in tears on live radio on Saturday, as he explained Gareth Richards is in hospital following a “very big road accident”.
Today police have published a fresh appeal for witnesses to come forward, about the crash which is believed to have left Mr Richards seriously injured.
He was reportedly involved in a serious collision on the M25 near Heathrow Airport on 27 March.
The Metropolitan Police have released a statement saying that a man remains in hospital in a “life-threatening condition” following that collision.
Officers continue to look into the crash.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the crash but police are asking anyone with any information or dashcam footage of what happened to contact them.
The crash between a lorry and two cars happened on the motorway between Junctions 14 and 15, Surrey Live reported.
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‘He’s a fantastic bloke’
During the closing moments of his show on Absolute Radio on Saturday, Mr Skinner recalled how Mr Richards had co-hosted with him and Emily Dean when the show first started out.
Breaking down in tears, he continued: “And Gareth was in a very big road accident this week and… it’s not looking great for Gareth.
“He’s in hospital and he’s fighting but it’s not looking great and I didn’t want to do this show – we didn’t want to do this show without mentioning him…”
He added: “He’s a fantastic bloke and I dunno if any of you do pray, if you do give one for Gareth this week.”
A total of 58 people have been charged after Just Stop Oil staged four days of protests on the M25, shutting down parts of Britain’s busiest motorway.
The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested 63 suspects during a “major operation to tackle serious disruption”.
Eleven people charged were due to appear in various courts on Friday – on the same day the climate activist organisation announced it would pause protests on the M25.
The group – whose members climbed overhead gantries on the motorway – said in a statement: “From today, Just Stop Oil will halt its campaign of civil resistance on the M25.
“We are giving time to those in government who are in touch with reality to consider their responsibilities to this country at this time.
“We ask that the prime minister consider his statement at COP27, where he spoke of the catastrophic threat posed by the ravages of global heating, the 33 million people displaced by floods in Pakistan, and the moral and economic imperative to honour our pledges.”
But they warned: “The supporters of Just Stop Oil(JSO) are now the people upholding law and order and protecting civil society.
“Under British law, people in this country have a right to cause disruption to prevent greater harm – we will not stand by.”
Image: A Just Stop Oil activist seen on an overhead gantry on the M25.
The 11 people charged include David Misfud, 46, of Totnes, Devon, who was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London.
Nicholas Onley, 60, of Tottenham, north London and Thomas Gardener, 40, of Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, were due to face magistrates in Reading.
Meanwhile, Diana Hekt, 68, of Kirklees, Huddersfield, and Tez Burns, 34, of Swansea, were due to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
Mair Bain, 35, of Derby; Phoebe Plummer, 21, of Clapham, southwest London; David Mann, 50, of Ipswich; Cressida Gethian, 20, of Ledbury, Herefordshire; Christopher Ford, 35, of Cambridge, and Quido Wieswer, 18, from Pentonville, north London, were all set to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Image: Pic: Just Stop Oil
Injured police officer now recovering
An Essex Police motorcyclist who was injured during a collision with two lorries as the protests unfolded on Wednesday is now recovering and has thanked the public for their concern.
The officer, who has asked to remain anonymous, was hurt during a rolling roadblock after being thrown from his motorcycle.
The married father-of-two is a highly experienced officer who was equipped with the force’s latest motorcycle, including protective clothing and built-in airbags.
He has been part of the Essex Police Road Policing Unit for more than 20 years after signing up in 2001.
The incident comes as a senior police chief warned it is “only a matter of time” before someone is killed during the demonstrations.
But JSO activist Indigo Rumbelow, during a fiery exchange with Sky News’ Mark Austin on Thursday, insisted protests should continue and defended the M25 disruption.
She described the situation as “incredibly grave” and warned: “Protests will have to continue because, at the moment, I just do not know what else we’re going to do.”
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11:20
Protester Indigo Rumbelow is challenged by Sky’s Mark Austin
Chief Supt Simon Anslow, the senior officer leading operations on the Essex section of the M25, thanked motorists for their patience and support to officers.
Police to be given more powers to stop protests
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this week said ministers are “moving ahead” with legislation to give police more powers to stop protests.
His remarks were in response to Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge in Surrey, Ben Spencer, telling the Commons how the M25 protests had caused “disruption and misery” to constituents, including problems accessing the local hospital.
Read more: Explained: Who are Just Stop Oil? Video reveals tailbacks caused by M25 protests
JSO has staged 32 days of disruption from the end of September and throughout October, leading to 677 arrests and 111 people being charged.
Officers worked a total of 9,438 extra shifts to tackle the crisis. JSO said its supporters have been arrested more than 2,000 times since beginning its campaign in April.
Just Stop Oil has said it is halting its protests on the M25 after causing days of widespread disruption on the major motorway circling London.
Its supporters have been climbing overhead gantries in several locations, forcing the police to close vast sections of the road for safety while officers remove activists.
“From today, Just Stop Oil will halt its campaign of civil resistance on the M25. We are giving time to those in government who are in touch with reality to consider their responsibilities to this country at this time,” the group said today.
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0:56
Tailbacks caused by Just Stop Oil
“We ask that the prime minister consider his statement at COP27, where he spoke of the catastrophic threat posed by the ravages of global heating, the 33 million people displaced by floods in Pakistan, and the moral and economic imperative to honour our pledges.
“You don’t get to recycle words and promises – you owe it to the British people to act.
“Today is Remembrance Day, we call on you to honour all those who served and loved their country. Take the necessary first step to ensure a liveable future and halt new oil and gas.”
The group did not say whether campaigners would resume action on the M25 if their demands are not met.
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1:36
Climate finance boost is ‘right thing to do’
The demonstrations began on Monday as the latest COP27 international climate change summit in Egypt got under way.
Dozens of people took part in the protests and were detained – despite the Metropolitan Police “proactively” arresting campaigners suspected of planning the action.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the action was “criminality”, not protest.
“This was a very significant and co-ordinated effort to cause massive disruption to the entirety of the M25,” he said.
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Just Stop Oil return to M25
Essex Police made several arrests across a stretch of the M25 during the course of the group’s four-day campaign.
It’s chief constable, BJ Harrington, told Sky News the group’s actions were “unlawful” and “dangerous”, warning protesters were not only risking their own lives, but that of motorists and police officers too.
One police officer was injured in a crash with two lorries while responding to protests on the motorway on Wednesday.
Campaigner Indigo Rumbelow, told Sky News’ Mark Austin on Thursday the climate crisis is set to get “worse and worse and worse unless we act”.
She accepted the disruption is “not pleasant”, adding: “We feel empathy for all those people out there”, but insisted the action was necessary to get the government to listen.
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0:56
Just Stop Oil: ‘Do you love your children?’
National Highways has said dealing with the Just Stop Oil protests is costing it “a lot of money”.
It has secured a High Court injunction to prevent protesters disrupting England’s busiest motorway.
The court has granted a further injunction which aims to stop unlawful demonstrations on the M25, which encircles Greater London, in an attempt to end disruption to the busy road by the environmental group.
It means that anyone entering the motorway and fixing themselves to any object or structure on it, and anyone assisting in such an act, can be held in contempt of court.
They could face imprisonment, an unlimited fine, and the seizure of assets.
A Just Stop Oil campaigner has defended the disruption caused by protests as activists blocked the M25 for a fourth day, warning that “this is just the beginning”.
In a fiery exchange with Sky News’ Mark Austin, Indigo Rumbelow exasperated the climate crisis is set to get “worse and worse and worse unless we act.”
Appearing on The News Hour With Mark Austin, Ms Rumbelow described the situation as “incredibly grave” and said Just Stop Oil has one simple demand – for the government to stop licencing new gas and oil in the UK.
“We need everybody to come and join us so that we don’t have to cause this type of disruption on the motorways,” she said.
“We need to be sat outside parliament with tens and tens of thousands of people demanding an end to new oil and gas.”
Ms Rumbelow added: “It is very clear the disruption will end as soon as the government issue a statement to stop new oil and gas.
“Protests will have to continue because, at the moment, I just do not know what else we’re going to do.”
The campaigner was interviewed as police forces scramble to deal with demonstrations which have caused severe delays on Britain’s busiest motorway.
The actions of protesters have been branded “criminal, reckless and dangerous” by a police chief, who warned they will no longer be tolerated.
