LONDON: A man has admitted trespassing at Buckingham Palace while carrying a craft knife. Chorrie Thompson, 46, slipped through a gate to the rear of the royal residence in London when it was opened to allow a vehicle to exit at around 11.25am on April 15.
Thompson is currently in custody and facing a trial. Prosecutor Mike Mullin said Thompson made his way to the Lodge area to the right of the large gate before being confronted by security staff and asked to leave.
“He says he wants to use the toilet and when he was refused permission he becomes aggressive and throws some documents he has on to the floor,” Mr Mullin said. “He was only in there for 10 to 15 seconds before he leaves.”
The court heard that, when police officers arrived, they found Thompson was carrying a craft knife.
During the court hearing, he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and that he was of no fixed address, before pleading guilty to possessing a locking type of craft knife and trespassing on a protected site.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “This is obviously a serious and significant case given the nature of where he was and the offending that took place.”
But he added: “I recognise he didn’t produce the knife – it was only found as a result of the search, which was inevitable.”
Mr Goldspring said Thompson faces a minimum six-month prison term as a starting point, but adjourned sentencing until May 28 for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports to be prepared.
The court heard that Thompson, who has previous convictions for offences including burglary, had been in contact with a mental health team in Barnet, north London, and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
