An English Defence League demonstrator was fined at court after becoming drunk during a march in Peterborough city centre in March.
Andrew Robinson (46) travelled from his home in Birmingham to take part in the demonstration in Peterborough on Saturday, 29 March. He was one of 450 people who took part in the demonstration, with about 100 taking part in a counter demonstration held by the Peterborough Trades Union Council on the same day. Robinson was the only person arrested during either demonstration, and he appeared at Peterborough magistrates Court on Monday.
Jackie Carradice, prosecuting, said: “As the EDL march went past Bridge Street Police Station, Robinson was trying to break out of the barriers set by police. He was clearly under the influence of alcohol, and other members of the march were trying to move him to the edges, and were clearly annoyed by him. Police officers pulled him out of the crowd, and Robinson swore at the officers, and at a member of the public passing by. The officers needed to use force to detain him as he resisted arrest.”
Robinson, of Stratford Road, Birmingham, represented himself in court, and addressing District Judge Ken Sheraton, spoke only to apologise for his actions. He pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour, and was fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.