Dartford Crossing. Just Stop the Oil: The Deportation Petition

Marcus Decker, 34, was jailed for two years and seven months after causing a 40-hour standoff on Dartford Bridge by climbing 275ft across the Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

Decker now faces deportation back to Germany after serving his sentence.

Any foreign national is usually automatically deported if he has been sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.

Decker’s girlfriend, Holly Cullen-Davies, pleaded with the Home Office to allow him to stay in the UK, calling the prospect of deportation “double punishment” for him and their family.

Decker was found guilty of public disorder alongside 40-year-old Just Stop Oil protester Morgan Trowland, who was also jailed for three years.

As a result of the protest, Decker and Trowland spent 37 hours sleeping in hammocks on the bridge until October 18, 2022.

A friend of Decker’s, Ms Cullen-Davies, launched a Change.org petition calling for signatures to save him from being deported to Germany after his conviction – the petition currently has 35,834 signatures.

Ms Cullen-Davies explained that he had become a devoted stepfather to her two children since they met three years ago.

She describes him as a “hot singer and climate activist” who lives “the humblest life”.

Just Stop Oil wants the government to stop issuing new licenses to explore for oil and other fossil fuels in the UK.

It describes itself as “a coalition of groups working together to ensure that the government commits to ending the licensing and production of new fossil fuels”.

By 2025, the government plans to license more than 100 new oil and gas projects.

Marcus said in a statement on the Just Stop Oil website: “I am devastated and very sad. I have accepted the prison term as a consequence of my actions, but losing my family, home, community and the country I have come to love feels like a double punishment.

“I know Holly is devastated too. I stayed in this country because I fell in love with it and we have already been separated for 7 months while I was in prison. Now there’s a good chance I’ll never come home to her and my family again.’

Marcus’ partner Holly said: “It’s the worst thing that’s happened so far. It is pointless and unnecessary. My children and I managed to come to terms with his imprisonment. But now it feels like the government is trying to tear our family apart forever.

“Everyone there just sees a subversive activist. But this is the man I love, a wonderful stepfather who sings his children to sleep at night, a wonderful man who puts those who suffer first, not himself.

“He put his own freedom and body on the line for those suffering from the climate crisis, and was willing to accept prison time for it. Trying to stop him from coming home to us is so cruel.’

Essex Police said a “pregnant woman who required urgent medical attention” was among those affected by the traffic violation.

Another man missed the funeral of his best friend of 35 years, police said, and the company lost more than £160,000 in profits.