ANTI-Star Wars campaigner Lindis Percy has been found guilty of aggravated trespassing at RAF Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

Pickering magistrates heard yesterday that Mrs Percy was arrested last year after refusing to move away from an access road into the base.

But the incident will not deter her from campaigning against the use of North Yorkshire bases for a US Nuclear Missile Defence system, she told the Evening Press.

"It is vital people are able to protest against what is happening at Fylingdales and Menwith Hill," she said.

"These bases need to be monitored by people like us so people are aware of what exactly is going on."

Mrs Percy, 60, of Holderness Road, Hull, denied the charge and argued she should not have been arrested.

Prosecutor Paul Bowater said that at 11.30pm on September 9 last year two Ministry of Defence police officers were called to the main access road at the base.

Special constable Sgt James Carr was the arresting officer.

"Mrs Percy was in her car on the access road and was obstructing another car from gaining entry to the base," said Sgt Carr.

"I tried to talk to her through her window but she ignored me. When a colleague approached the car with a tow rope Mrs Percy drove to the side of the road allowing the other person access."

He told the court that despite asking her several times to leave, she stayed. He then cautioned and arrested her.

She was then taken to Whitby Police Station where she declined to answer questions and was charged with aggravated trespassing.

Mrs Percy, defending herself, said she had visited the base to view security there.

"I also wanted to protest against what the Americans are proposing to do with this base," she said.

She then attempted to convince the court that she had been illegally arrested under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

She told the court the act referred to trespassing in the open air. She was in her car.

Mrs Percy also argued that the arresting special officer, Sgt Carr, who she claimed had not been attested properly into the MoD police force, had no right to arrest a person under that act.

But after taking legal advice, magistrates rejected Mrs Percy's arguments and found her guilty.

She was fined £220 and ordered to pay £200 costs.

Updated: 08:44 Wednesday, February 20, 2002