Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Pizza prankster given a slice of justice
An online prankster who slapped a rival in the face with a pizza has described his prosecution for assault as a “waste of taxpayers’ money”.
Lee Marshall filmed himself running up to Jack Jones outside Canterbury West train station and shoving the slice of meat feast into his victim’s face.
City magistrates were told the 30-yearold shouted: “Have some pizza for your birthday, Jack. This is what you do to other people.”
Mr Jones did not see the funny side and called police.
Marshall, who is known as his alter ego Disco Boy, appeared in court on Friday afternoon and admitted common assault.
Prosecutor Neil Sweeney told the court that Mr Jones, who lives in Margate, went to Canterbury with friends to celebrate his birthday on February 9.
As they walked towards the city, Marshall struck.
In a statement, Mr Jones, who had previously worked on internet pranks with the defendant, said: “He smashed a pizza in my face.
“I felt dizzy afterwards and I’m now scared that this sort of thing may happen again. If it reaches social media, it could damage my career.”
Mr Jones performs practical jokes on unsuspecting members of the public and uploads the videos to the internet. He has millions of followers.
Marshall also uploads videos of himself performing as Discoboy.
His solicitor, David Nelson, said Marshall accepted he pushed pizza in Mr Jones’s face.
“He thought Mr Jones would treat it as a joke,” Mr Nelson said.
“This was indeed a practical joke, but it went wrong.
“He is extremely remorseful and what he did was foolish and not something he would do to any member of the public.”
Magistrates gave Marshall a one-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay Mr Jones £50 compensation.
After the 15-minute hearing, Marshall told the Kentish Gazette: “It’s a joke that this has come to court.
“It’s a waste of the court’s time and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Jack Jones can dish out pranks, but he can’t take them. He’s ended up with £50 compensation for this piece of pizza. Not bad.”