A young woman from Whitstable convicted of terror-related offences for her part in an anti-deportation protest believes history will vindicate her actions.

Laura Clayson, 28, a former pupil at Faversham’s Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, was one of 15 people who formed a blockade around a Boeing 767 for 10 hours at Stansted Airport in March last year.

The plane had been chartered by the Home Office to deport people held in UK detention centres to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana.

The protesters - dubbed the Stansted 15 - were arrested under the 1990 Aviation and Maritime Security Act - a controversial use of terror-related law.

And on Monday, following a nine-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, they were all convicted of intentional disruption of services and endangerment at an aerodrome.

Miss Clayson says the protestors knew their actions were likely to have legal repercussions, but were stunned to find themselves arrested on terror-related charges.

“It was incredibly unexpected,” said Ms Clayson. “We didn’t think we’d be prosecuted under this legislation - I feel it was a very political decision.

“The horrible irony is while we were convicted of endangering, we were actually taking this action because the Home Office was neglecting to help these people and that’s what we were trying to do.

“Our actions didn’t put any people or things in danger.”

Miss Clayson says she was motivated to get involved after reading about the lives of those due to be deported on the plane.

“One testimony we read was from a lady whose abusive ex-husband knew she was being deported, and had threatened to kill her,” she said.

“She came to the UK because she could live here freely as a lesbian - something she couldn’t do in Nigeria, where LGBTQ people are discriminated against.

“She was facing both her violent ex and the authorities, upon her arrival. We were gravely concerned about her.

“Two people due to be on that plane were trafficking victims, at risk of being trafficked again.

“There was a 21-year-old asylum seeker due to be deported to Nigeria, where he had nobody. His parents were in Britain. His grandfather and brother had been murdered, and he was scared that fate awaited him.

“When we learned about their stories, we felt compelled to act.”

The protest began at 10pm on March 28.

'It feels very much like this case been used to discourage further resistance. But I feel like resistance will continue, because it has to' - Laura Clayson

Miss Clayson said: “We walked very calmly to the plane, which was being prepared in a parking bay.

“We put ourselves in position - I was by the nose wheel - and locked on with our arms to other people.

“We stood there for 10 hours, which allowed those at risk to get extra time to get their cases heard, to get documentation together.

“Two people on that flight have now got leave to remain - they were never meant to be on that flight in the first place.”

Miss Clayson believes the prosecution was brought to discourage further similar protests, and stands by her actions.

“It feels very much like this case been used to discourage further resistance,” she said. “But I feel like resistance will continue, because it has to.

“These people are vulnerable. It’s just so inhumane. They should stop deporting people on these extremely distressing flights. When I think about the people due to be on that flight, I feel that what we did was right, and necessary.

“While the jury didn’t vindicate us, I feel like history will.”

The Home Office says only those with no legal right to remain in the UK, including foreign national offenders and failed asylum seekers, are deported. A spokesman added: “We expect people to leave the country voluntarily but, where they do not, the Home Office will seek to enforce their departure.”

The 15 defendants, aged 27 to 44, await sentencing.