Food campaginer Martin Sharw was given a one-month suspended jail term. Three others, a gardener and two teachers were let off with a warning after claiming they did not realise an injunction obtained by Montsanto last year affected them.
The High Court judge gently offered some stern words. All four had been "reckless". If they carried out any further acts of destruction the consequences for them would be "dire".
A later report said that Melchett had been released but on condition he did not damage any more genetically modified crops.
These gentle sentences are the British way to tame revolutionaries before they become martyrs. They are likely to be met by alternative ingenious forms of struggle.
Greenpeace may feel the costs have been worth the publicity.
Meanwhile when US subscribers are surprised to hear their administration is conceding the labelling of GM products, they should realise the range and breadth of the struggle that is building up about different methods of food production, and the trade in their respective commodities across the Atlantic. Soon your soya farmers will not be able to sell in Europe.
Chris Burford
London