Man Charged In Connection With Abuse Of Nottinghamshire MP

19 February 2019, 14:59 | Updated: 19 February 2019, 15:00

Protester James Goddard has been charged with harassment after Nottinghamshire MP Anna Soubry was taunted outside Parliament.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the 29-year-old is accused of two counts of harassment relating to incidents on December 19 and January 7.

He is also accused of two public order offences against a police officer.

The self-styled "yellow vest" activist posted a video on Facebook on Tuesday to thank his supporters after being warned he was likely to be remanded in custody when he answered police bail.

He said: "If they do remand me then we will just have to learn from it, go away, do it, come back even stronger."

Goddard was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on January 12 following claims that Ms Soubry was harassed in Westminster five days earlier.

Ms Soubry, a prominent supporter of a second EU referendum, was taunted during a television interview, and then harangued by a group of men as she made her way back to Parliament.

The incident led to beefed-up police patrols around Westminster and a debate over whether protests near the Houses of Parliament had crossed a line.

Footage was also posted online of Goddard shouting at a police officer.

A CPS spokesman said: "On February 5, the CPS received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police relating to two incidents outside Parliament on December 19 and January 7 involving an MP.

"Following a review of the evidence, the CPS has authorised the police to charge James Goddard, 29, with harassment. He is also charged with two public order offences against a police officer."

Goddard will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 19.