'The Ant'

An eco-campaigner today admitted trying to escape from a police station - but said it was because he had been detained unlawfully.

The 41-year-old campaigner, who calls himself The Ninja Ant and is representing himself in court, accused the Crown Prosecution Service of being sadistic for prosecuting him "because he wanted to save wildlife".

The Radley Lakes campaigner, who denies attempting to escape lawful custody, also told Oxford Crown Court that security guards working for RWE npower had illegally detained him at Thrupp Lake, in February 2007.

He said: "RWE npower, or Nazi Power, were putting carcinogenic coal ash in the lake, possibly giving people here cancer."

The Ant, who gives his address as Westminster peace camp in London, told the court he was arrested and taken to Abingdon Police Station where he was allowed to call his solicitor from a side room.

He said he tried to climb through a panel in the ceiling, hoping there was a ventilation system he could escape through, but the ceiling collapsed, injuring him.

He said: "I believe it is sick and sadistic of the CPS - I nearly died. I was trying to save life, and if that is wrong you do whatever you wish to me."

The trial continues.

6:59pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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