Anti-vaxxer, 35, who hit a police horse causing it to ‘rear up’ during Covid demo in Newcastle is jailed for 12 weeks
- Anti-vaxxer Alexander Warren hit a police officer a Newscastle protest last year
- The 35-year-old slapped the backside of a horse at anti-vaccine demonstration
- Mr Warren is said to be a key leader at the protest and was seen with megaphone
- The police horse that was caused to rear after the attack was called Patronus
An anti-vax protester who hit a police horse during a demonstration in Newcastle city centre has been jailed.
Alexander Warren was part of a rally outside the city’s civic centre in August last year when he struck a police horse called Patronus on the backside.
The 35-year-old, who was seen to be acting aggressively, caused the horse to ‘rear up’ but was caught after another mounted police officer saw what happened.
Warren, who is from London, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court via link from HMP Belmarsh on Friday to be sentenced for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Anti-vaxxer Alexander Warren, 35, hit a police officer a Newscastle protest last year and has now been jailed
He was found guilty of the offence following a two-day trial in July.
Sarah Malkinson, prosecuting, said Warren was part of an anti-vaccination protest in Newcastle city centre, which was moving from the civic centre area.
Mounted officers were in the vicinity monitoring the crowds, including one officer on a police horse called Patronus.
She said: ‘The defendant walked by, pushing past and slapped the horse on its hip with an open hand, causing it to rear.
Another officer on a horse saw what happened and grabbed the defendant by the rucksack.’
During his trial, Warren said Patronus was being made to walk in front of him to block his path and had ‘pecked’ his head several times
The court heard in July that Warren appeared to be one of the leaders during the protest and was seen using a megaphone.
During the sentencing, Ms Malkinson said Warren had five previous convictions for nine offences, none of which were relevant.
The court was told that he is currently on remand at HMP Belmarsh for other matters.
Warren, who appeared for sentence without representation, said he denied any wrongdoing and said he did not lose his temper and did not want to cause any suffering to the horse.
He said: ‘I have never caused any harm to an animal, I’ve cared for them.
‘I was in Newcastle for a peaceful protest and was not there to cause distress to any animal or anyone.’
During his trial, Warren said Patronus was being made to walk in front of him to block his path and had ‘pecked’ his head several times, leaving him ‘shocked’ by what he described as an ‘attack’ on him.
Warren, who is from London, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court via link from HMP Belmarsh on Friday to be sentenced
Sentencing Warren, District Judge Paul Currer, said he ‘slapped the backside of the horse’ and behaved ‘particularly aggressively in motivating the crowd around you’. He said Warren approached Patronus as other police told him to move back and ‘struck it on its hind quarters’.
He added: ‘It was a deliberate action to escalate things, largely led by you and your bad behaviour.’ Warren was jailed for 12 weeks and must pay £128 victim surcharge and £620 costs.
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