50 Years for 'Urban Terrorists'; Ringleaders: Greg and Natasha Avery Got Nine Years Each

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Byline: Tom Kelly

A JUDGE branded seven animal rights extremists 'urban terrorists' yesterday as he jailed them for a total of 50 years for a ruthless campaign of intimidation.

Mr Justice Butterfield said the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty activists made life a 'living hell' for thousands of men, women and children by subjecting them to a 'relentless, sustained and merciless persecution'.

He also called for the law to be changed to allow tougher sentences for blackmailers, after warning the ringleaders of the network were likely to return to extremism once they were freed.

The plotters - a mix of veteran animal rights protesters and their young …