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Six years for royal crowd axe man Six years for royal crowd axe man
(about 1 hour later)
A man found carrying an axe in a crowd of people waiting to see the Queen has been jailed for six years.A man found carrying an axe in a crowd of people waiting to see the Queen has been jailed for six years.
Daniel Bleazard, from Huddersfield, who was arrested as crowds waited for the royal visit to the town in May, was convicted of offences in December.Daniel Bleazard, from Huddersfield, who was arrested as crowds waited for the royal visit to the town in May, was convicted of offences in December.
Judge Jonathan Durham-Hall QC said on Tuesday he believed the 34-year-old had wanted to provoke armed police. Judge Jonathan Durham-Hall QC said he believed the 34-year-old had wanted to provoke armed police.
His actions could have endangered the public if officers had had to open fire to protect the Queen, he said.His actions could have endangered the public if officers had had to open fire to protect the Queen, he said.
Father-of-three Bleazard, of Adelphi Road, was given a three-year sentence for having an article with a blade and a further 18 months for breaching an anti-social behaviour order.Father-of-three Bleazard, of Adelphi Road, was given a three-year sentence for having an article with a blade and a further 18 months for breaching an anti-social behaviour order.
He was also found guilty of another charge of having an article with a blade and one of going equipped for theft, relating to a different incident, and jailed for a further 18 months.He was also found guilty of another charge of having an article with a blade and one of going equipped for theft, relating to a different incident, and jailed for a further 18 months.
You wanted to brandish that weapon in as close a proximity to Her Majesty as was possible Judge Jonathan Durham-Hall
The judge said this should be added to the rest of his sentence to make a total of six years in prison.The judge said this should be added to the rest of his sentence to make a total of six years in prison.
Bleazard had been found guilty of all the offences at an earlier trial.Bleazard had been found guilty of all the offences at an earlier trial.
The jury at that trial heard how the members of the public waiting for the royal visit to start on 24 May alerted uniformed police because a man seemed to be pushing towards the front of the crowd into an area where children were gathered.
The officers called in plain-clothes colleagues who grabbed Bleazard from behind.
They spotted what they thought was a pick-axe handle but when they arrested him they found he was carrying a felling axe with a 3ft long shaft.
The court heard how he said: "I just came to see the Queen" as he was led to a police van.
'Hatred of authority'
Giving evidence, Bleazard told the jury he needed the axe to chop wood at his home in Huddersfield because his chainsaw had broken.
Judge Durham Hall said Bleazard was an "angry and aggressive" man who had a string of minor convictions and a "deep, idiosyncratic hatred of authority".
"You wanted to brandish that weapon in as close a proximity to Her Majesty as was possible," said the judge.
He said there was probably no real risk of the Queen being harmed in this situation, adding she had "got more courage than the rest of us put together".
He also expressed his astonishment at hearing how Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) officials "at the highest levels" had tried to discontinue the case against Bleazard.
Bradford Crown Court heard the prosecution only continued after protests from the local police inspector.
The judge said: "It is, I find it, absolutely bewildering that there was any thought whatsoever given to discontinuing any part of this case.
"Others will have to make their judgment about that."