Anti-lockdown protester, 57, who called BBC Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt 'traitor' as he was chased by mob during rally near Downing Street denies public order offence

An anti-lockdown protester who branded a BBC journalist a 'traitor' as he was chased by a mob during a rally near Downing Street earlier this month today denied a public order offence.

Martin Hockridge, 57,  is charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt with the intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress on June 14.

Crowds had gathered in Whitehall to protest against the Government's extension of coronavirus restrictions in England by four weeks to July 19, the new so-called 'Freedom Day'.

Heavily-tattooed Hockridge appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a religious cross around his neck and dressed in a camouflage military-style jacket, dark jeans and black boots. He spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address before entering a not guilty plea to the single charge.

The court heard Hockridge, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire, does not deny calling Mr Watt a 'traitor', but his solicitor Gemma Motion said he denies the word was threatening, abusive or insulting or that it would be perceived to cause harassment, alarm or distress.  

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Martin Hockridge, 57, is charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt with the intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress on June 14

Crowds had gathered in Whitehall to protest against the Government's extension of coronavirus restrictions in England by four weeks to July 19, the new so-called 'Freedom Day'

Footage shared widely on social media shows anti-lockdown demonstrators chasing the BBC journalist on Whitehall, then onto Richmond Terrace as Hockridge yelled 'Traitor!'.

Later that evening, Hockridge was charged under Section 4A of the Public Order Act, with using 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards another person with the intention to cause them harassment, alarm or distress'. 

Following the incident, gardener Hockridge posted on his Facebook account: 'I stand by my actions. It is unacceptable that the BBC lies and spread fear among the nation. The propaganda pushed out by this man and the insidious organisation he works for. 

'Nicholas Watt is a traitor, cast from the same mould as Lord Haw-Haw.'  

Heavily-tattooed Hockridge appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court wearing a religious cross around his neck and dressed in a camouflage military-style jacket, dark jeans and black boots

Mr Watt, who wore a blue face mask and a BBC lanyard, then turned to escape their path before being chased across the road by a crowd. The reporter then fled into Downing Street to escape the protesters (file image)

Miss Motion said: 'Mr Hockridge denies it was a threatening or abusive word to use and he denies that it could be used to cause alarm or distress, that is why we ask to call Nicholas Watt to court.

'He has no knowledge that his words would be perceived in that way.'

In the footage Mr Watt - wearing a blue face mask and BBC lanyard around his neck - was followed closely by Hockridge wearing a leather waistcoat and a blonde woman in a minidress who pointed their fingers at him. 

The Newsnight political editor then turned to escape their path before being chased across the road by a crowd, and then fleeing into Downing Street to escape the protesters. 

Hockridge was released on conditional bail by District Judge Angus Hamilton until his trial on November 8 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

A second man, Christopher Aitken, 62, from Brixton, has also been charged with a public order offence over the incident, and has been bailed to appear at the same court July 22.