Castle crossbow intruder admits treason charge
A MAN caught in the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow has admitted a charge under the Treason Act of trying to harm the Queen.
Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, was detained on Christmas Day 2021 close to the Queen’s private residence, where she and other members of the royal family were at the time.
The former supermarket worker had scaled the perimeter of the grounds with a nylon rope ladder at around 6am.
Just over two hours later, two officers spotted him in the grounds of the castle and one of them approached.
Wearing black clothes, gloves and a metal mask, Chail told them: “I’m here to kill the Queen.”
Chail was carrying a crossbow loaded with a bolt and with the safety catch off.
The officer drew a Taser and the intruder was ordered to drop his weapon before he was arrested and handcuffed.
Afterwards, detectives trawled through CCTV and established that Chail had travelled to Windsor on December 23 2021.
Four days before his arrest, Chail recorded a chilling video in which he expressed his desire to assassinate the Queen.
In it, Chail wore a dark hoodie and mask and brandished his weapon, as he said in a distorted voice: “I’m sorry for what I have done and what I will do.”
He sent the video via Snapchat to about 20 people in his contacts list about 10 minutes before he was detained.
Tests on the Supersonic X-Bow found it to be comparable to a powerful air rifle, with the potential to cause serious or fatal injury.
Bolts, a metal file and other items were later found in a hotel room where Chail had stayed the night before.
Police also found Chail had been motivated by ill-feeling towards the British Empire and sought revenge against the establishment for the treatment of Indians.
Chail, who was charged on August 2 last year, had previously applied to join the Ministry of Defence Police and the Grenadier Guards, in a bid to get close to the royal family.
At the time of his arrest, Chail, from Southampton, Hampshire, was unemployed but had previously worked at a branch of the Co-op supermarket.
Yesterday, the defendant appeared at the Old Bailey by video-link from Broadmoor high security hospital, wearing a black jacket with fake-fur collar.
He confirmed his identity then pleaded guilty to three charges, including an offence under the Treason Act.
The most serious charge under Section Two of the Treason Act said that “on December 25 2021 at Windsor Castle, near to the person of the Queen, you did wilfully produce or have a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, or to alarm Her Majesty”.
He also admitted making a threat to kill the Queen and having a loaded crossbow in a public place.
Mr Justice Jeremy Baker adjourned sentencing until March 31 before Mr Justice Hilliard at the Old Bailey.
Earlier, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told the court that a psychiatric report found Chail was fit to stand trial.