A York man has been convicted of throwing eggs at King Charles III during a royal visit to the city.
Patrick Thelwell, 23, of Heslington, York, was convicted of using threatening behaviour following a trial at York Magistrates' Court on Friday, 14th April 2023.
Using threatening behaviour is an offence under section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986. The maximum penalty on summary conviction is 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.
Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring, the Chief Magistrate, presided over the trial.
Michael Smith, prosecuting, described the events that took place at the city's Micklegate Bar (that's a medieval gate to the city, not a drinking establishment) on Wednesday, 9th November 2022.
The King, Queen Consort and dignitaries were walking around the crowds when several eggs were thrown in their direction. Thelwell also shouted a number of abusive comments towards King Charles.
PC Adam Steventon, the arresting officer, was stood a few yards away from Thelwell and quickly identified that he was throwing the eggs.
Giving evidence, PC Steventon said: "I recall him shouting several times 'Fuck the King'.
"I believe he shouted 'the King is a paedophile' or words very close to that."
Body camera footage of Thelwell's arrest showed him saying: "I threw eggs because that's what he deserves. It's the only justice the victims of colonialism will ever get."
Footage from the custody desk at Fulford Road police station showed him asking: "Did I get him? If I didn't get him I will next time, or someone else will."
The court was also told that Thelwell had signed his custody sheet in the name of: "Fuck the King".
Thelwell denied the offence on the basis that his actions were self-defence "against the violence carried out by the British state".
But Senior District Judge Goldspring rejected that as a defence.
SDJ Goldspring described Thelwell's actions as an "unprovoked, targeted and pre-planned use of violence against what was, after all, a 74-year-old man".
He added: "You intended to cause King Charles to believe immediate unlawful violence would be used against him".
Thelwell audibly sighed in relief when the Judge said that he was not going to send him to custody.
Instead, he was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a requirement that he completes 100 hours of unpaid work.
Thelwell was also ordered to pay £600 towards prosecution costs and £114 surcharge, which he was told he could pay at a rate of £5 a week.
Thelwell, a self-proclaimed anarchist, has previous convictions for public order offences committed during Extinction Rebellion demonstrations.
Nick Price, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: "Thelwell showed no remorse after his arrest and continued to reinforce his intent to hit His Majesty The King with the eggs. This threatening behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
"The CPS remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served in all cases, regardless of the identity or status of the victim or defendant."
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