A court heard how a masked man allegedly chased Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor near Sandringham, but the suspect’s trial was delayed after he brought his dog to court
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor came face-to-face with an alleged stalker wearing a balaclava who chased after his vehicle near his Sandringham home, a court has heard. Alex Jenkinson, 39, is charged with using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour towards the former Duke of York in Norfolk on May 6.
He is currently fighting the public order charge as well as an application by Suffolk Police for a civil Stalking Protection Order, which relies on evidence from Andrew and searches found on Jenkinson’s phone.
Details of the confrontation were read out at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, who highlighted key sections of Andrew’s witness statement set to form the centrepiece of both proceedings.
The royal said that when he was out for a walk with his dogs on the estate, he spotted a car which he assumed to belong to press photographers, and then he and his security detail “drove past the car”.
He said a man “turned and faced me – he was wearing a balaclava face covering”.
Andrew provided a description of the “out-of-place” man, and added in his statement: “I then saw a loose dog running towards him. Then he realised who I was and began to sprint after my vehicle.”
Thursday’s court hearing took place in Jenkinson’s absence after he arrived with his dog, Indie, and was blocked from entering the building by court officials.
As Jenkinson stood on the pavement outside, his lawyer, Claire Howell, told Judge Ikram: “He has had to bring his dog with him, so he wasn’t allowed inside the court.
“He is homeless and currently in accommodation in a Travelodge. He is not allowed to leave the dog there. It provides him with support, he suffers from ADHD.”
She conceded that she has no documents to prove Jenkinson’s medical condition, or his need for a support animal.
The judge told her: “I’m not prepared to have a dog in the courtroom simply because he is homeless and he happens to keep a dog. I’m not saying he is not telling the truth but there’s nothing to corroborate it.”
He added: “We accommodate people who have ADHD and have support animals. I would want something more than he is homeless and happens to have a dog.”
The judge heard and agreed an application for the police bid for a Stalking Protection Order to be adjourned, and decided the hearing could take place in Jenkinson’s absence.
Ms Howell told the court Jenkinson has now been found temporary accommodation where he can leave the dog for future hearings, and she added: “I don’t want to give character evidence on behalf of the dog, but having spent the last hour and a half with him, I can say he is a very well-behaved animal.”
Jenkinson is accused of causing the former Duke of York to “fear unlawful violence” during the confrontation in Wolferton, close to his Marsh Farm property.
Jenkinson was detained under the Mental Health Act for around a month afterwards. He has pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood while in custody on May 6.
But he denies the public order offence against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and has also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence against another man, Stephen Terry, in King’s Lynn, on May 5.
Andrew is due to give evidence by videolink at the criminal trial, which has been set for December 21.
Jenkinson, who comes from Stowmarket, Suffolk, is also fighting the making of the Stalking Protection Order.
Judge Ikram ruled on Thursday that the former duke, as well as Mr Terry and an eyewitness to the Norfolk incident, must give evidence for a second time at the hearing to determine the Stalking Protection Order application.
“I am persuaded that fairness demands the respondent to these proceedings (Jenkinson) be allowed to call and cross-examine these witnesses”, he said.
At a hearing at the end of July, the court heard that evidence from Jenkinson’s phone – including alleged searches on Andrew, Sandringham and “weapons” – is due to feature in the trial.
In the criminal proceedings, Jenkinson is on bail with conditions not to go near a number of sites linked to the royal family – Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor and Highgrove.
He must also not try to contact Andrew directly or indirectly, or approach him or enter Norfolk.
As the hearing concluded, Judge Ikram extended the interim Stalking Protection Order against Jenkinson, he set a pre-trial hearing at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court for January 22, and said the final hearing would take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 16.