AN anti-fracking protester who sat on top of a lorry for 19 hours is wanted on warrant.

Matthew Thomas Eade, 22, of no fixed address, failed to attend two trials on the same day at York Magistrates' Court.

The trials went ahead in his absence and he was convicted twice of hindering others going about their lawful business and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is the first protester to be convicted of such an offence. He had denied both charges at an earlier hearing.

On each occasion, he sat on top of lorries used by contractors to make deliveries to the Third Energy site off Habton Road, Kirby Misperton.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said Eade had climbed on top of a lorry near Knapton on the A64 shortly before 6pm on October 16 and not come down until 10.25am the next day.

Convicting Eade, district judge Adrian Lower said: “Nineteen hours clearly crosses the line from peaceful protest into direct action.”

Earlier the same day, he had convicted Eade of sitting on top of a different business’ lorry at Whitby on October 4.