Andrew Banks jailed for urinating next to PC Keith Palmer’s memorial

‘The irony is rather than protecting the monuments, you almost urinated on one,’ chief magistrate says

A man who was photographed urinating by the memorial to a police officer killed in the 2017 Westminster terror attack has been jailed.

Andrew Banks, 28, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A photo of him – during protests by football hooligans and far-right groups on Saturday – urinating next to the memorial commemorating PC Keith Palmer had sparked widespread outrage.

The court heard that Banks had consumed 16 pints from Friday night into Saturday morning, and had not been to sleep.

Prosecutor Michael Mallon said Banks, a Tottenham Hotspur fan, was in central London as part of a group of football supporters to “protect statues”, but the defendant admitted he did not know which ones.

Banks, of Stansted in Essex, turned himself in at a police station on Sunday after officers issued an appeal to identify him.

The court heard that he had been confronted by his father as the photo went viral online, and had not known what PC Palmer’s memorial was for.

Sentencing him to 14 days’ imprisonment, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: “I accept you were drunk and did not know where you were urinating.

“Your explanation is you had 16 pints to drink, you hadn’t been to bed, and a group of football supporters were coming up to protect the monuments.

“The irony is rather than protecting the monuments, you almost urinated on one. That was more by luck than judgement.

“You showed no respect at the time for a man killed while protecting the Houses of Parliament.”

Mr Mallon described how Banks was spotted at around 11am on Saturday walking along Bridge Street in Westminster, going behind a barrier and urinating next to the memorial for around a minute.

He said that after the protest Banks was confronted by his father, and “admitted it was him but stated he didn’t know what the memorial was for until it was explained to him”.

“He stated he attended the protest to ‘protect the statues’, but didn’t know what he was protecting,” the prosecutor added.

“He said he desperately wanted to urinate but couldn’t find a toilet. He did not know there was a memorial where he was urinating. He said he was very remorseful.”

Stuart Harris, for the defence, said his client had no previous convictions and was “ashamed by his actions”.

Commander Bas Javid, of the Metropolitan Police, had called the image “disgusting and abhorrent”.

“PC Palmer was a brave police officer and the memorial stands testament to his courage," he added. "Bank’s actions, in stark contrast, were unpleasant and extremely upsetting to PC Palmer’s family and colleagues.

“While I note that Banks did not act with intent, I welcome the sentence handed down by the court for his thoughtless and distasteful behaviour.”

Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “This was a sickening image we saw at the weekend. I am glad the perpetrator has come forward and pleaded guilty. This will save the family of Keith any further trauma.”

PC Palmer was guarding an entrance to the Houses of Parliament in March 2017 when Khalid Masood mounted his attack.

The terrorist rammed pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, before crashing and running towards Carriage Gates armed with two knives.

He stabbed PC Palmer, who was unarmed, a number of times before being shot dead by a close protection officer.

PC Palmer was posthumously awarded the George Medal for gallantry and granted a police funeral at Southwark Cathedral.

A bouquet of flowers is laid down at the memorial stone for PC Keith Palmer in London (Reuters)

The memorial was erected near the Carriage Gates entrance to parliament, metres from where he was fatally attacked.

More than 100 people were arrested at Saturday’s protest, which was called by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DLFA) following weeks of demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Football supporters, veterans and far-right groups descended on London after the Cenotaph and statues of historical figures, including Winston Churchill, were graffitied.

Black Lives Matter cancelled its main protest on Saturday amid fears of disorder – and both monuments, as well as several others, were put under protective coverings.

But hundreds of self-proclaimed “statue defenders” took over areas near the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square and hurled missiles, smoke grenades, glass bottles and flares at police officers.

A total of 113 people were arrested and the protest was condemned by Boris Johnson as “racist thuggery” and described as “mindless hooliganism” by police.

Additional reporting by PA