The man who was pictured urinating next to a memorial honouring a murdered police officer during a far-right protest in London has been jailed.
Andrew Banks from Stansted, Essex, had attended the protests to 'protect statues' and had 'drank 16 pints', according to prosecutor Michael Mallon.
The 28-year-old appeared before a panel at Westminster Magistrates' Court where he admitted an offence of outraging public decency after handing himself into the police.
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Banks, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, said he had sunk 16 pints during Friday night into Saturday morning and had not been to sleep.
His defence counsel, Stuart Harris, explained that his client was 'ashamed by his actions' and had mental health issues, reports the MailOnline. Despite this, he was jailed for 14 days by magistrates.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday (13 June), with many from far-right groups, saying they wanted to protect statues from being vandalised.
Banks handed himself in to police after a photograph was being widely shared on social media of him urinating next to the memorial for PC Keith Palmer, who was killed during the Westminster terror attack in 2017.
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Speaking in response to the image, Metropolitan Police Commander Bas Javid said: "We are aware of a disgusting and abhorrent image circulating on social media of a man appearing to urinate on a memorial to PC Palmer.
"I feel for PC Palmer's family, friends and colleagues. We have immediately launched an investigation and will gather all the evidence available to us and take appropriate action.
"The incident is believed to have taken place in the afternoon of Saturday, June 13. The man is currently in custody in Essex after presenting himself at a police station."
After the photo emerged of Banks urinating on the memorial, which was unveiled in 2019, Home Secretary Priti Patel branded the act 'shameful'.
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Ms Patel said: "We have seen a small minority behave in extreme thuggery and violent behaviour.
"That is simply unacceptable and the individuals that are basically putting the safety of our police officers and the safety of the public at risk will expect to face the full force of the law.
"We have seen some shameful scenes today, including the desecration of PC Keith Palmer's memorial in parliament, in Westminster Square, and quite frankly that is shameful, that is absolutely appalling and shameful."
Featured Image Credit: Thabo Jaiyesimi/Alamy Stock Photo