Paul Crowther appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to offences of assault and criminal damage after throwing a milkshake at Nigel Farage when he visited Newcastle on 20 May this year. An application was made for his address to be withheld. This was dismissed by the Judge. On such an application the Court has to consider whether identification of the defendant’s address would expose him to a real and immediate risk to his life engaging the State’s duty to protect life under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Defendant would have to provide clear and cogent evidence to show that publication of his address will create or materially increase a risk of death or serious injury. The test is therefore a high one and this power is rarely exercised, the Courts generally favouring open justice.
Paul Crowther received a 12 month Community Order with 150 hours unpaid work as well as compensation of £350. This sentence is in keeping with the Sentencing guidelines and it would seem that the Judge in dealing with him was not affected by the publicity the case has afforded.
Blog by Trish Mytton, Partner