Belfast Telegraph

Sunday 16 March 2014

Remembrance Day gatecrasher sorry

Jose Paulo Da Silveria leaves Bristol Magistrates' Court after he pleaded guilty to a charge of disrupting a Remembrance Sunday parade

A man who gatecrashed a Remembrance Sunday parade on a skateboard wearing a pink outfit and horned mask has apologised for any offence he had caused.

Jose Paulo Da Silveria, 38, said he had not intended to disrupt the parade at the Cenotaph in Bristol city centre and had stumbled upon the service accidentally.

"I apologise for the distress but I wasn't really thinking," he said. "I ran into the middle of this thing and I didn't realise what was going on.

"I was going to College Green and I was just skating along. I just came down from Nelson Street and I don't remember seeing any restrictions and no one was stopping me from carrying on. It was only when I saw the photographs in the newspaper that I realised what was going on."

Outside court Da Silveria, wearing black and blue striped stockings, red shorts, a turquoise corset, blue blouse, white gloves, a lace face mask, hat and makeup, added: "I didn't take any notice of what was going on around me. I recall people being aggressive towards me when I was arrested. I am just so sorry for any offence I caused."

Da Silveria was speaking outside Bristol Magistrates' Court after he received a £65 fine and was ordered to pay £85 costs and £20 victims' surcharge when he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

For the brief hearing, Da Silveria, of Somerset House, Lawfords Gate, Bristol, had removed his hat and lace mask to sit in the dock of courtroom three.

Prosecutor May Li told the court that Da Silveria was seen at 11.45am riding his skateboard towards the Cenotaph, where large crowds had gathered to watch the parade.

"He was wearing striped tights, pink frilly knickers, a corset and he had a red and black face cover," she said. "He was causing harassment, alarm or distress to the public and there was a strong reaction to his presence."

John Roberts, defending, said his client had stopped receiving medication for psychiatric problems but since his arrest his treatment had recommenced. "My client apologises unreservedly for any offence he may have caused to anybody," Mr Roberts said.

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