Prosecutors set to re-open case of protesters putting cone on top Tory's head

21 January 2023 , 21:00

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Ian Duncan Smith says the decision to let them off was "remarkable" (Image: PA)

Prosecutors plan to re-open the case of protestors linked to a traffic cone being put on former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith ’s head.

The CPS said it is considering whether to appeal the decision which cleared Radical Haslam, 29, of Salford and Ruth Wood, 52, of Cambridge of harassing IDS with threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

There will be no further action taken over the acquittal of Elliot Bovill, 32, at Manchester Magistrates’ Court who was accused of slamming the cone on the MP’s head.

Mr Duncan Smith tells GB News that he found the decision last year to let them off “remarkable.”

He added: “These were permanent protesters; they do nothing else but protest.

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“We were concerned because they were charged with quite a low-level charge anyway.”

The CPS is considering whether to appeal (Getty Images)

Police thought the demonstrators who attacked Mr Duncan Smith at the 2021 Tory Party conference in Manchester would have a defence under the human rights act which guarantees the right to protest.

The CPS said it had asked district judge Paul Goldspring to justify his decision to acquit.

Ruth Wood said at the time: “It seemed like a practical joke. There was nothing particularly threatening about what we were doing.”

Nigel Nelson