A STUDENT who allegedly threw eggs at the King during a visit to York has pleaded not guilty to threatening behaviour.
Patrick Thelwell appeared at York Magistrates’ Court at a special hearing before the most senior district judge in the country to face a charge relating to the incident on November 9.
Wearing a coat and top that exposed his midriff, Thelwell, 23, gave his address as student accommodation on the University of York campus. He had previously given an address of Nunmill Street, off Bishopthorpe Road, York.
He pleaded not guilty to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. The maximum sentence for the offence is six months in prison.
Thelwell’s solicitor, Nicola Hall, said the issues at trial would include whether his actions “were part of legitimate protest” and whether they “looked likely to cause fear of unlawful violence”.
“He would take the view his actions were necessary and part of a protest against the establishment,” Ms Hall told the court.
Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring released Thelwell on unconditional bail. He will hear Thelwell's trial at the same court on April 14.
On leaving court, an hour after the case concluded, Thelwell said "Peace and love" to the assembled media and made no other comment.
On November 9, the King and Queen Consort had just arrived in the city to unveil a statue of the late Queen at York Minster, and were being welcomed by local dignitaries at Micklegate Bar when a figure in the crowd threw four eggs, all of which missed the royal couple.
Police immediately arrested a man and Charles and Camilla were ushered away by security shortly after the incident. The rest of the visit went ahead without any problems.
The King and Queen were in York to unveil a statue of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, which had been commissioned by York Minster to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
After a service in the cathedral, the King pulled aside the curtain which had concealed the statue high on the West Front of the minster.
Today the King is visiting Manchester as he continues a series of trips around the country following his accession last September.
Last week Harry May, 21, of South Luton was fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 for an unrelated egg attack on the King when Charles visited Luton in December.
May pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderley behaviour for which the maximum sentence is a fine at Westminster Magistrates Court.
May told police the egging was motivated by his belief that the King’s visit to “deprived and poor” Luton, was “in bad taste”, prosecutors said.
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