Pro-Brexit protester given suspended sentence after harassing Remainer MP Anna Soubry

James Goddard harassed pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry outside the Houses of Parliament (PA Images)
James Goddard harassed pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry outside the Houses of Parliament (PA Images)

A pro-Brexit protester has been given a suspended sentence after admitting he harassed Remainer MP Anna Soubry outside the Houses of Parliament.

James Goddard, 30, admitted calling the former Conservative a Nazi and a traitor in January.

He was also handed a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Soubry and told he cannot enter an area, including Parliament Square, College Green, the Palace of Westminster, Portcullis House and Downing Street, and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

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, and a separate racially aggravated public order offence towards a police officer when he appeared before justices on Friday.

Footage shown in court featured Goddard wearing his trademark hi-vis vest shouting insults at Ms Soubry, who defected to join the party now known as Change UK in February.

He could also be seen hurling abuse at Ms Soubry as she made her way into the Palace of Westminster following a live television interview in which she struggled to be heard above the protesters’ insults.

In a victim impact statement, read before the court on Friday, Ms Soubry described how she was “really intimidated”, and was “very shaken by what happened”.

She added: “I have developed a mechanism for cutting off large parts of my emotions.

“I was disorientated, I felt intimidated and harassed.”

Goddard, whose previous court appearances have been characterised by clashes with journalists, police, justices and people in the public gallery, was released on bail alongside his co-defendant.

He was ordered to pay Ms Soubry £200 in compensation, £215 in other court costs, as well as another £200 compensation to a Lithuanian police officer after admitting a separate racially aggravated public order offence towards him.

Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot had already indicated he would not be sent to jail.