Sussex University protest students cleared Published duration 13 February 2014

image caption Students held a mass protest during the eight-week occupation of the university

Three students have been cleared of obstructing police during a demonstration held during an eight-week occupation of the University of Sussex.

Kristina Ilieva, Sarah Becca and Caradog Jones were charged following a protest on 25 March last year involving hundreds of students.

Protesters from Sussex were joined by scores of students bussed in from other universities.

The trio, all in their 20s, were found not guilty by Brighton magistrates.

All three were living in Brighton or on the university campus.

The case against Can Aniker, charged with causing criminal damage during the demonstration, was dismissed in December.

The action began on 7 February 2013, when a number of students occupied Bramber House on the campus at Falmer, in protest at the university's decision to pass some of its support services, including catering, to external companies.

The last protesters were evicted on 3 April.