Yellow Vest mob storm court – while police just look on
Far-Right activists disrupt hearing for leader who ‘called MP a Nazi’
FAR-RIGHT protesters stormed the Attorney General’s office yesterday as police looked on and did nothing.
Hours earlier, the self-styled ‘yellow vest’ activists made a mockery of the justice system by reducing a court appearance involving their leader James Goddard to a farce.
The mob chanted ‘Anna Soubry is a Nazi’ in the courtroom, in a reference to the pro-Remain MP who Goddard is accused of harassing, and yelled ‘shame on you’ at a judge.
Others ranted that the lawyers present were in league with paedophiles as the hearing was left in chaos. After leaving court, Goddard’s supporters went to Westminster, where they entered the office of Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC.
They passed what appeared to be the only security guard before swarming through the corridors of the building unimpeded.
Streaming their antics live on Facebook, the activists banged on doors and screamed insults through megaphones as staff hid in locked offices. No ministers were in the building at the time.
Goddard, who yesterday pleaded not guilty to harassing Independent Group MP Miss Soubry by calling her a ‘ Nazi’ and a ‘traitor’ in Westminster in January, was not present.
Police spent an hour politely asking the mob to leave the premises, apparently fearful of provoking them. After eventually being threatened with arrest for aggravated trespass, they left the building. No one was arrested, and Scotland Yard said inquiries were continuing.
Goddard, 29, appeared earlier at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for what should have been a brief hearing. But despite the high-profile nature of the case, only one security guard was on hand. No attempts were made to restore order or empty the court of troublemakers, with District Judge Kenneth Grant quickly wrapping up the hearing and leaving.
Goddard refused to stand up when asked to confirm his details, blew ironic kisses at one lawyer, and grinned when Miss Soubry’s name was mentioned.
Speaking from the dock, he said: ‘It’s not illegal to heckle an MP. All of this is wrong.’
Goddard’s lawyer, Edward Brown, said his client would rely on defences of ‘reasonable behaviour’ and ‘true comment’. He does not deny saying the words attributed to him, Mr Brown said. The defendant also railed at the media, calling reporters ‘vultures’ and moaning that he gets ‘called a far-Right fascist’.
His supporters then began to chant ‘Anna Soubry is a Nazi’ as the atmosphere grew increasingly aggressive. A burly male friend of Goddard’s and two women entered the court and sat in the dock with him, in breach of the rules.
Others jeered during the adjournment as a police officer entered the court before beating a retreat. At the hearing’s conclusion, Goddard left the glassfronted dock and advanced on the judge directly, gesticulating.
A judge has the power to clear the public gallery, and can institute contempt proceedings against those who disrespect the court, but neither option was pursued yesterday.
Goddard, of Timperley, Manchester, was released on conditional bail. He denies three counts of harassment, using threatening/abusive words or behaviour and racially/ religiously aggravated harassment.
His trial will be held at the court on July 19. Miss Soubry is expected to give evidence.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: ‘We are deeply concerned to hear of intimidating behaviour... This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.’
‘It’s not illegal to heckle an MP’