An ex-student who was convicted of threatening behaviour for throwing eggs at King Charles III during a walkabout was seen beaming as he walked free from court today.
Patrick Thelwell shouted “the King is a paedophile” after throwing after throwing “at least five eggs” towards the monarch in York last year.
The 23-year-old had pleased not guilty to a Section 4 public order offence, saying he used “low level violence” in a “lawful” manner as it was self defence against “the violence carried out by the British state”.
The judge sentenced Thelwell to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work for the “unprovoked, targeted and pre-planned use of violence against what was, after all, a 74-year-old man”.
Patrick Thelwell has been convicted of threatening behaviour
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Speaking outside York Magistrates’ Court, Thelwell declared with glee that he was “off for a pint” after defending his actions.
He told reporters: “I think it’s frightening that billions of people are going to die on this planet because of climate breakdown.
“People are dying right now, which is really serious. If my actions scare people then maybe it can inspire them to think about what is really scaring us.
“We’re sleepwalking into a fascist state and if we don’t do something about it, they’re going to start locking us up in camps and killing us.”
King Charles is preparing for his CoronationReutersThe defendant, whom said he had now given up his studies, has been ordered to pay £600 court costs and £114 surcharge at a rate of £5 a week.
Thelwell defended himself at the trial, and was stopped by the judge from asking a police witness whether he “was aware the King was photographed numerous times with Jimmy Savile”, in a reference to the disgraced TV presenter.
Judge Goldspring told him: “Whether or not the King was photographed with Jimmy Savile has no relevance to this trial at all.
“I’m afraid I won’t allow you to ask questions about your perception of the King’s past.”
The defendant also asked Detective Constable Peter Wilson if he felt throwing eggs at people “is more or less serious than the violence carried out by the British state”.
Police Constable Adam Steventon, who arrested Thelwell, told the court he was standing about 10 yards away when he “became aware of a commotion”.
The officer said he saw one of the eggs being thrown and climbed over the barrier to detain Thelwell, who was being restrained by plain-clothed police officers and members of the public.
“I recall him shouting several times, ‘f*** the King’. I believe he shouted ‘the King is a paedophile’ or words very close to that,” PC Steventon told the court.