A BBC journalist felt like “prey” while being chased by protesters at a rally against the blockade and the vaccine, a court heard.
Nick Watt told the Westminster Magistrates’ Court how he was “very scared” while being chased by protesters in Whitehall in June 2021.
Footage released in court showed protesters shouting in the face of the political editor of Newsnight, who wore a BBC belt.
He walked away from the crowd as people shouted at him before running, eventually making his way behind the gates of Downing Street.
The video heard some shouting “traitor” while others asked “how can you sleep at night?”
Alexander Pitt (Kirsty O’Connor / Pennsylvania)
(PA conductor)
Christopher Aitken, 62, Martin Hokridge, 58, Jazia Chaib-Edur, 44, Alexander Pete, 34, and Gary Purnell, 45, all deny using threatening, offensive or offensive words or behavior intended to cause harassment, anxiety or suffering.
On the first day of their trial, on Wednesday, Mr Watt said he had left his office at the parliament mansion to watch the protest, which was initially “reasonably good-natured”.
But he said “the atmosphere has worsened, prompting him to put on his BBC belt to identify himself as the press to police and protesters.
He told the court that he had decided to move away from Downing Street before he felt there was a “huge physical threat” as he ran safely near number 10.
He told the court: “I used to be a runner, the calculation I made was that I could run faster than any of them.
Mr Watt explained that he was “like an express train” when he escaped.
“I had become their prey, their career. It was like hunting a vulnerable animal, “he added.
Martin Hawkridge (Kirsty O’Connor / Pennsylvania)
(PA conductor)
Accusing Alex Matthews told the court that “the frantic incident was heated up in a joint fire” and the five defendants “taken over the management of the crowd.”
Mr Watt told the court that the experience had left him “very shocked”, adding that although he had covered the unrest in Northern Ireland, he had “never experienced” such behavior.
The court also heard how the incident had a lasting effect on his mental well-being.
He said: “We had to stop submitting documents, almost a year later, because someone was shouting ‘traitor’ and coming, so there is this practical effect, but obviously the psychological impact of ‘what’s around the corner?’
During Mr Watt’s testimony, two people were removed from the public gallery for laughter.
Aitken of Lambeth, Hokridge, Harpendon, Herts, Chaib-Edur, Islington, Pete, Wandsworth and Purnell, Shepards Bush, were released on bail.
The process continues.
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