A student was found guilty of a public order offence after throwing five eggs at King Charles during his visit to York, BBC reported on Friday. On November 9, Patrick Thelwell threw the eggs at the King and Queen Consort as they arrived at Micklegate Bar (one of the four main medieval gateways of England’s city of York). After a trial at York Magistrates’ Court, the 23-year-old was found guilty. Thelwell admitted throwing the eggs but claimed it was “lawful violence” during the hearing.
Chief Magistrate Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring found Thelwell guilty of the charge on Friday, saying Thelwell “intended to cause King Charles to believe immediate unlawful violence would be used against him.”
The King and Queen Consort were in the city on November 9 to unveil a statue of the late Queen at York Minster and were being greeted by local dignitaries at Micklegate Bar when Thelwell threw five eggs that “came very close to hitting King Charles,” according to York Magistrates Court.
According to Prosecutor Michael Smith, Thelwell was quickly identified and removed from the crowd before being detained on the ground and arrested.
Thelwell, who defended himself at the trial, posed outside court with a painted egg sign held by one of about ten supporters. Other signs read, “Did you vote for him?” and “Justice for Patrick.” “Justice for All.”
During his trial, the judge barred him from questioning a police witness about whether he “was aware the King was photographed numerous times with Jimmy Savile,” the disgraced TV presenter, BBC reported. “Whether or not the King was photographed with Jimmy Savile has no relevance to this trial at all,” said Judge Goldspring. “I’m afraid I won’t allow you to ask any questions about the King’s past,” he added.
The defendant also asked Detective Constable Peter Wilson if throwing eggs was “more or less serious than the violence perpetrated by the British state.”
The court was shown body camera footage of Thelwell’s arrest, in which he can be heard screaming, “I threw eggs because that’s what he deserves. It is the only justice that colonial victims will ever receive.”
PC Adam Steventon, the officer who arrested Thelwell, testified in court that he was about 10 yards away when the eggs were thrown. He stated that he made the decision to detain Thelwell, who was being restrained by plain-clothed police officers and members of the public.
Harry May, 21, was fined £100 in January for throwing eggs at the King during a walkabout in Luton on December 6. The King has not spoken out about the incidents. On either occasion, he was not hit by an egg.