Jail threat lifted from eco-warrior

A environmental protester dubbed "Captain Greenpeace" escaped being jailed yesterday after the oil giant BP withdrew legal action against him.

Jon Castle was one of a group of Greenpeace activists involved in the controversial occupation of a drilling rig to publicise the environmental impact of oil exploration off the Scottish coast.

Yesterday he was ordered to appear at the Court of Session in Edinburgh after BP alleged his involvement had breached an earlier court order banning him from taking such action.

The court was told that BP no longer wanted to pursue the action following its decision to abandon a pounds 1.4m claim for damages against Greenpeace.

Richard Keen QC, for BP the parent company of Britoil plc, said: "In light of the claim for damages that has been withdrawn, it is not the intention of Britoil to insist on this complaint."