Intruder, 33, with ‘fixation’ on accessing royal grounds avoids jail after he was caught trespassing at Buckingham Palace TWICE in four days
- Daniel Brydges was caught trespassing in Buckingham Palace twice
- He had tried to get into the palace a month earlier, court was told
- The late Queen was at Windsor Castle on the occasions when he trespassed
- Brydges, 33, was spared jail but must not go within 100m of a royal residence
An intruder caught trespassing in Buckingham Palace twice in four days was spared jail today.
Daniel Brydges scaled two fences to gain access to the Palace gardens on December 18 last year and was also found ‘stooped’ behind a Land Rover near The Royal Mews gate four days later, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
The late Queen was at Windsor Castle on both occasions when Brydges trespassed at the Palace.
Brydges, who was ‘fixated’ on accessing royal grounds, had travelled from his home in Portsmouth and attempted to get into the palace a month before on November 15 but was not charged.
The intruder, 33, admitted two counts of trespassing and damaging the barbed wire fence ‘belonging to the Queen’s Estate’.
District Judge Annabel Pilling sentenced him to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and said he must not go within 100m of a royal residence. The sentence includes mental health treatment and rehabilitation requirements, while Brydges, who is claiming benefits, must pay £748 in costs and other charges.
Daniel Brydges scaled two fences to gain access to the Palace gardens on December 18 last year and was also found ‘stooped’ behind a Land Rover near The Royal Mews gate four days later, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard
The late Queen was at Windsor Castle on both occasions when Brydges trespassed at Buckingham Palace (exterior pictured)
‘It is worrying that it is still not clear what your motivation was,’ the judge told him.
‘This was a very serious security breach. There was a suggestion you were fixated somehow by the Palace or by members of the royal family. You were persistent and determined.’
Police at the royal residence were informed by site staff that there was an ‘unknown man on the estate’ at 5.43pm on December 18.
Prosecutor Sudara Weerasena had told the court Brydges was ‘located on the West Terrace and it was unknown how long he had been there before staff spotted him.’
A search was conducted and Brydges was found hiding in shrubbery to the side of the palace garden before he was challenged by officers.
‘He was then detained and arrested before being taken to the police station,’ Ms Weerasena said.
Brydges covering his face while leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month
Brydges was interviewed on December 19 and claimed he was homeless, looking for somewhere to sleep. He said he did not know he was trespassing in the Buckingham Palace grounds.
Three days later Brydges was spotted climbing over the main gate.
‘He stoops down behind a Land Rover and is seen looking around. He is the again challenged by member of staff, before running off,’ said Ms Weerasena.
‘He is then chased by palace officers and detained again.’
Brydges claimed he had returned to the palace to collect a bottle he had left the last time he was there. But the intruder had been identified trying to gain entrance into Buckingham Palace through a loading bay more than a month earlier on November 15, the court heard.
‘He was challenged by staff and told them he was homeless and had travelled here from Hampshire,’ said Ms Weerasena.
Brydges was also identified as a ‘suspicious male’ seen on the stairs of Thames House in Millbank on December 11.
Adnan Hussain, defending, said: ‘He has told me he is deeply sorry and ashamed of his actions.
‘In summary he has been seen by a mental health team they described his engagement as a whole as good.
‘He is on the mend, and it will not happen again.’
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