Protester in dock for hurling ‘Nazi’ insults at Soubry

A man has admitted abusing Anna Soubry outside Parliament, calling her ‘scum’ and a ‘Nazi’.

‘Yellow vest’ protester James Goddard, 30, filmed himself hurling abuse at the pro-Remain MP after claiming she was a ‘traitor’ for betraying the country’s vote to leave the EU in 2016.

Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot showed Westminster Magistrates’ Court videos of Goddard abusing Miss Soubry. One showed Goddard – flanked by 55-year-old Brexiteer Brian Phillips and others – following the Broxtowe MP around, shouting ‘you are a traitor’ and ‘you are on the side of Adolf Hitler’.

It also showed them screaming ‘liar’ during two TV interviews of Miss Soubry, 62, at College Green near the Houses of Parliament on January . Footage played to the court – including of another incident from December 2018 – showed Goddard, from Altrincham, near Manchester calling her a ‘Nazi’ and, screaming ‘scum’ at the MP, who left the Conservatives to lead the Independent Group for Change.

In a victim impact statement, Miss

Guilty: Protester James Goddard shouted insults at Anna Soubry Soubry said she felt ‘intimidated and harassed’. Goddard admitted one charge of intent to cause Miss Soubry harassment, alarm or distress, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour. He also admitted one racially aggravated public order offence towards a police officer. He and fellow defendant Brian Phillips, of Erith, south-east London – who pleaded guilty to the first charge – were released on bail and will be sentenced on Monday.