Putney Man Charged with Abusing Nick Watt


Alexander Peat accused of harassing BBC journalist at anti-lockdown demo

Nick Watt (left) being chased by anti-lockdown protestors. Picture: Resistance GB/YouTube

A man from Putney has become the fourth person to be charged in connection with an incident earlier this year in which a BBC journalist was chased and abused.

34-year-old Alexander Peat, of Felsham Road, SW15 was charged on Saturday, 28 August, with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Nick Watt, who is the political editor of Newsnight, was covering an anti-lockdown demo that was taking place near Downing Street on 14 June when he was recognised by members of the crowd and chased through the streets of Whitehall who shouted ‘traitor’ at him accusing him of spreading lies on behalf of the ‘mainstream media’ whilst manhandling him.

Earlier 38-year-old Joseph Olswang from East Sheen had been charged with assault in connection with the incident. Olswang, of Upper Richmond Road West, who attended Latymer Upper School, owns a children’s clothes brand and promotes music to radio stations, was arrested and charged with common assault contrary to section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

Christopher Aitken, 62, from Brixton, and Martin Hockridge, 57, from Harpenden have also been charged and are due to face trial in November

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August 30, 2021