An animal rights extremist is starting a threemonth jail sentence for sending malicious mail. Andrew Kirk (46), from Middlesbrough, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last week. He was arrested in January 2005 by officers from Staffordshire Police's Environmental Protest Unit who were investigating a malicious letter sent to Staffordshire councillor Peter Clamp. At the time, Mr Clamp was involved in a High Court injunction application to protect Darley Oaks Farm, in Newchurch, near Burton, from animal rights extremists. At Birmingham Crown Court in November, jurors convicted Kirk of an offence of sending malicious mail. This related to an envelope emblazoned with a swastika which Kirk sent to Huntington Life Sciences in Cambridgeshire. Kirk was found not guilty of 15 other offences including sending malicious mail to Mr Clamp. Inspector David Bird, head of the unit, said: "We welcome this jail sentence which we hope sends a clear message to protesters who overstep the mark through intimidation and harassment. Staffordshire Police is committed to upholding the lawful right to protest but will take action against people who commit offences." | 
