Drunken father who breached cordon at nerve agent site jailed

A DRUNKEN father of three who launched a foul-mouthed rant at police guarding the scene where a former Russian double agent and his daughter were discovered critically ill has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Jamie Knight, 30, faced magistrates to plead guilty to four offences committed at The Maltings in Salisbury, Wiltshire on the evening of March 9.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that Knight, a scaffolder, breached the cordon around the bench at The Maltings where Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-yearold daughter Yulia were found.

The site has been of interest to detectives investigating the incident as father and daughter remain critically ill in hospital.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said Pc Jamie Ball – fearing he was risking his life by entering the cordon – chased after Knight and apprehended him.

Security guard John King went to assist and the defendant bit both of them on the hand and spat at them during the struggle.

He shouted and swore at the men and said he hated the Russians.

After being arrested Knight was placed in the rear of a police van where he continued to kick out, spit and headbutt the walls of his cage.

Pc Ball said he had undergone checks in hospital for possible contamination by a nerve agent.

Nick Redhead, defending Knight, said: “Mr Knight really can’t account for why he used words against Russians. He has never met one. He had been drinking and he was very drunk and his memory of what took place is very dim.”

Knight was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to both Pc Ball and Mr King, £85 court costs and £115 victim surcharge.