Anti-vaxxer who accosted Matt Hancock on tube denies harassing him

22 February 2023 , 17:11

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Matt Hancock was confronted as he walked through Westminster Underground Station (Image: Getty Images)

An anti-vaxxer who filmed himself as he accused Matt Hancock of killing "millions of people" during an exchange on the Tube has denied harassing the former Health Secretary.

Geza Tarjanyi, 61, branded the ex-cabinet member a "murdering scumbag" as he followed him through Westminster Underground Station and onto a train, a court heard

Mr Tarjanyi was arrested last month following the incident on January 24.

A clip shared online showed Mr Hancock turn and tell him: "Don't push me."

Westminster Magistrates Court heard the defendant told the Conservative MP: "I'll keep coming for you and I'll get that Sajid Javid too."

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Mr Hancock was followed through the station last month (file image) (PA)

Mr Tarjanyi, who is representing himself, denied one count of harassment without violence between 18 January and 25 January 2023.

The charge relates to "a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment" of Mr Hancock and includes another incident alleged to have occurred five days earlier.

Mr Tarjanyi is is said to have stood outside a security gate in Whitehall on 19 January and recorded himself asking Hancock: "Why did you kill so many people with (anti-anxiety drug) Midazolam?"

He allegedly barged into Hancock, but he claims the MP barged into him, the court heard.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring warned him: "This is not a show trial. If you appear in court and try to cross-examine [Mr Hancock] on any forms of policy I will not allow it."

Mr Tarjanyi, of Leyland, Lancs, will face trial on June 8 at the same court.

He was released on bail on condition he does not contact Hancock directly or indirectly. He must also not go within 200 metres of the Houses of Parliament as part of his bail conditions.

A spokesman for Mr Hancock last month said the MP had been subject of a "very aggressive and unpleasant encounter".

He added: "Matt wants to put on record his thanks to TFL and the British Transport Police for their extraordinary work."

Mr Hancock, 44, was a cabinet member when the pandemic struck and was a key figure in the lockdown restrictions and vaccine rollout that followed.

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He resigned after leaked CCTV image showed him kissing an adviser in his office, in breach of his own social distancing guidance.

Mr Hancock angered colleagues and constituents by jetting to the Australian jungle to appear on the reality show but won some sympathy from TV voters to come third.

Having been stripped of the Conservative whip over the appearance, he said he would not contest his seat at the next election when he will step down.

Sophie Kenyon