A group of anti-lockdown protesters have been found guilty of harassing BBC journalist Nick Watt but have been spared jail.
Footage shared on social media showed demonstrators shouting abuse in the face of Newsnight’s political editor as he was chased and called a ‘traitor’ near Downing Street.
Prosecutor Sudara Weerasena said yesterday Mr Watt faced further intimidation after giving evidence at their trial earlier this month.
A prosecution barrister also needed a police escort out of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, she added.
Djazia Chaib-Eddour, 44, Martin Hockridge, 58, Alexander Peat, 34, and Gary Purnell, 45, were handed 12-month community orders for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
An arrest warrant was issued for Christopher Aitken, 62, who did not attend the hearing.
They were part of a group that gathered on June 14 last year to protest against coronavirus restrictions.
District judge Louisa Cieciora said the latest allegations could not be ‘laid at the door of any of the defendants’ who were still in court at the time.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Watt said he ran ‘as fast as I could’ because of the ‘size and aggression of the crowd’.
He said he felt he was in ‘immense danger’ and told of receiving death threats on ‘conspiracy theorist forums’.
Chaib-Eddour, Hockridge, Peat and Purnell were also ordered to pay £395 each and given an indefinite restraining order not to contact Mr Watt.
Joseph Olswang, 40, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, was handed a suspended 20-week jail sentence.
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