A Watford man has been convicted of blocking the entrance tunnel to Heathrow Airport in protest to a proposed third runway.

Daniel Keeler, 35, of Mutchett’s Yard, was charged following an incident on February 21 where he and two others blocked the inbound tunnel into the central terminal area with their cars.

READ MORE: Watford man charged with Heathrow third runway protest

At around 8.30am on the Tuesday morning, Keeler drove his car into the tunnel, closely followed by Simon Bramwell, of Stroud, and Stuart Basden, from Bristol, in two hire cars.

All three vehicles stopped in the tunnel before Keeler, Bramwell and Basden used metal piping and quick dry expanding foam to lock themselves to one of the car engines, making it impossible to remove them without specialist cutting equipment.

Once released, Keeler had to be taken to hospital because he still had expanding foam stuck to his arm.

Two other people, Geneieve Scherer and Nil Agger, had previously pleaded guilty in connection with the incident.

The blockade caused considerable disruption to those who were attempting to access the airport, both to work and those who were intending to travel, for most of the morning. 

Superintendent Andy Jones, from the Met's Aviation Policing Command, said: "Whilst we will always support lawful protest as being the right of anyone who lives in this country, there was nothing lawful about this protest.

“It was selfish, they put their desire to be heard above everything else and gave no consideration to the impact it would have on others."

Keeler and Bramwell were both given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a sum to fund victim services. Basden was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs as well as a sum to fund victim services.

Nil Agger, 23, from Stroud, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 19 and was ordered to pay a fine and costs as well as a sum to fund victim services.

Geneieve Scherer, 70, of Lambeth, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, March 8 and was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs as well as a sum to fund victim services.