A man accused of a public order offence following the 'Unite the Kingdom' march in Central London on 13th September 2025 has been acquitted after Charles Drinnan successfully argued that the prosecution had made a fundamental charging error.
The defendant was charged under Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986, fear or provocation of violence, following allegations that he had attacked and threatened police officers during the march.
Charles made a submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution evidence. He argued that the charge as framed did not reflect the conduct alleged, as any violence and behaviour exhibited was not directed at the police officer the Crown relied on as the sole complainant, and that the prosecution had simply brought the wrong charge. The charge could not be amended and an alternative charge of Section 5 could no longer be brought because the statutory time limit had expired, leaving the Crown unable to remedy the position.
Despite finding that there was a highly threatening and unpleasant environment which the defendant contributed to causing fear of immediate violence, Westminster Magistrates’ Court accepted the submission that it could not convict on the evidence and the case was dismissed.
Charles was privately instructed by Joanna Schaefer of Russell Cooke Solicitors.
