James Goddard: Protester who harassed MP Anna Soubry given suspended sentence
Written by News on 23/07/2019
Pro-Brexit protester James Goddard, who admitted harassment after calling the MP Anna Soubry a Nazi outside the Houses of Parliament, has been given a suspended sentence.
The 30-year-old filmed himself hurling abuse at the Remain-supporting politician after claiming she was a “traitor” for opposing the country’s vote to leave the EU in 2016.
He has been sentenced to eight weeks in custody, suspended for one year, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community service.
Goddard was handed a restraining order banning him from approaching Anna Soubry and he will not be allowed to enter certain areas of London including Parliament Square, College Green, the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House and Downing Street for five years.
He must pay £200 compensation to Ms Soubry, as well as £215 in other court costs.
The self-styled yellow vest protester will also pay another £200 in compensation to a Lithuanian police officer after admitting a separate racially aggravated public order offence against him.
Goddard admitted one charge of intent to cause Ms Soubry harassment, alarm or distress, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week.
Goddard also admitted one racially aggravated public order offence towards a police officer.
Paul Jarvis, prosecuting, described how Ms Soubry was “very shaken by what happened”.
The MP, now the leader of The Independent Group for Change after defecting from the Tories in February, was giving a television interview on 7 January when shouts of “Soubry is a Nazi” could be heard in the background.
She was then surrounded by Goddard, fellow defendant Brian Phillips and others as she made her way towards the Houses of Parliament.
Video footage showing the incident was played in court.
Mr Jarvis said: “She found being described as a Nazi deeply offensive.
“It left her feeling angry.”
In a victim impact statement that was read out in court, the MP said: “I was really intimidated, and I was very shaken by what happened, however I couldn’t show it on camera.
“I have developed a mechanism for cutting off large parts of my emotions.
“I was disorientated, I felt intimidated and harassed.”
Fellow defendant Brian Phillips, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, has been sentenced to four weeks in prison, suspended for a year.
The 55-year-old was also handed a restraining order, a curfew and ordered to pay £200 in court costs.
Goddard was sentenced in front of supporters and family members in the public gallery.
In previous court appearances, the 30-year-old has clashed with police, journalists, people in the public gallery and justices.
(c) Sky News 2019: James Goddard: Protester who harassed MP Anna Soubry given suspended sentence
