An activist often known as “Stop Brexit Man” has been cleared of flouting a police ban after enjoying anti-Conservative and anti-Brexit music exterior parliament.
Steve Bray, 56, from Port Talbot, South Wales, performed edits of The Muppet Present and Darth Vader’s theme final 12 months earlier than then-prime minister Rishi Sunak arrived for PMQs.
After the not responsible verdict at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom on Monday, Mr Bray checked out his supporters within the public gallery, one in every of whom gave him a thumbs up.
The courtroom heard police approached Mr Bray on the site visitors island at round 11.20am on 20 March 2024, minutes earlier than Mr Sunak arrived.
Officers handed him a map and a discover that warned he was prohibited from enjoying the audio system within the managed space below a by-law.
Picture:
Mr Bray celebrates exterior Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom. Pic: PA
The music resumed intermittently and shortly after 12.30pm, officers seized the audio system, his trial at Metropolis Of London Magistrates’ Courtroom had earlier been instructed.
Mr Bray, who represented himself, denied the cost and instructed a earlier listening to that enjoying music was a part of his “fundamental right to protest” and it was performed “sporadically” reasonably than all day.
He was discovered not responsible of failing with out affordable excuse to adjust to a route given below the Police Reform And Social Duty Act 2011.
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‘Lampooning the federal government is an extended custom’
Deputy District Choose Anthony Woodcock stated of Mr Bray: “He admitted that he is ‘anti-Tory’, which is his words.
“He believes his is a vital message to disseminate. He wants the amount that he makes use of to get the message throughout from Parliament Avenue to the Palace Of Westminster.
“How he chooses to express those views is a matter for him.
“Lampooning the federal government by way of satire is an extended custom on this nation.”
The Muppets and Darth Vader themes were used “because the prime minister got here in, which is what we at all times did for Rishi – apparently he is a Star Wars fan”, Mr Bray had beforehand instructed the courtroom.
A number of witnesses described to the courtroom the adverse impression of Mr Bray’s music, heard as excessive because the sixth flooring in close by buildings, after which the defendant apologised.
Mr Bray is thought for taking part in music in protest round Westminster.
The music included D:Ream’s Issues Can Solely Get Higher on the gates of Downing Avenue when Mr Sunak introduced the overall election within the rain final Could.
