A man threatened to “drive his car to Downing Street” after he was enraged by a government pledge of £ 16 billion to the military, a court heard.
During the incident on November 20 last year, Gerald Dennis, 44, told a frightened bystander at a gas station not to “hate me if you see me on TV tomorrow.”
He was heard saying, “I hate Boris, I’ll drive my car to 10 Downing Street. Don’t hate me.”
Northamptonshire Police caught up with Dennis shortly afterwards when he played his comments as a “joke” at an Asda gas station, Northants Live reported.
The case was heard in his absence on Monday in Northampton Magistrates Court, where details of the chilling effect of his behavior on a psychiatric nurse who overheard him that night were revealed.
The threat was heard at a gas station
(Image: Getty Images)
Prosecutor Kirsty Gordon-Cleaver said, “At 7:15 pm, police were used to report a man who told a public that he intended to drive his car to 10 Downing Street.
“The suspicious vehicle was a Red Seat Ibiza. Around 8.40 p.m. it was spotted on the A45 to Raunds in the direction of Rushden.
“They stopped the vehicle and the officer immediately left the vehicle and took control of the driver, who identified himself as Erwin Dennis.”
Ten minutes later, Dennis from Rushden was arrested on suspicion of terrorist offenses after they reported the allegation.
He replied: “That was a joke. I am not ready to kill Boris, of course not. I am not happy with him, like many other people,” the court heard.
Mrs. Gordon-Cleaver said, “He said, ‘Look how far I am from number 10 – do you really think I could do that? It’s ridiculous.'”
The first comments came from a psychiatric nurse at the Asda gas station in Rushden.
In a statement, the spectator at the Asda gas station said: “He was carrying his car keys. I’ve never seen this man before, but I would recognize him if I saw him again.
“I filled my car with gasoline. His car was parked in front of me at the pump – a red Seat Leon.
“I saw the man coming to the store on the forecourt and he walks up to me. I could hear him laughing to himself.”
The man initially thought Dennis “could make a phone call” before looking “dead in the eyes” at the witness.
They added, “I was confused. He said, ‘Don’t hate me if you see me on TV tomorrow. I hate Boris, I’ll drive my car to 10 Downing Street. Don’t hate me. ‘
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“He spoke with a British accent. His tone was calm and he spoke regularly. He wasn’t manic at all.
“I felt scared and scared about the context of what he was saying – like he was doing it.
“I work as a mental health nurse and have seen patients do terrible things that they say they will do.
“The man seemed pretty determined and confident that he would do it. He was convincing.
“I heard him say, ‘I’m doing us all a favor.’ I saw a man for about 30 seconds in total. I got my phone, called 999 and told the police what just happened. “
During an interview with officials, Dennis said he spoke to a friend about the state of the country.
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The court was told the government had announced it would spend £ 16 billion on the military, which annoyed him for not having worked.
Ms. Gordon-Cleaver: “His upcoming job was delayed due to Covid and he was frustrated. He takes care of his mother.
“His partner has committed suicide in the past. It just came out and he was especially frustrated.
“He said he didn’t mean to cause alarm or distress, but understands that it was. He had no intention of going to 10 Downing Street.
“He knew he would be shot before he even got anywhere near the site. He was just frustrated and apologized. “
In the interview, Dennis said that he “doesn’t like Boris” but is “not a violent person” and has only “expressed his frustration”.
He was found guilty of using threatening / offensive words / behavior that were likely to cause harassment, alarm or despair.
When sentenced, the judges granted a 12-month parole, along with £ 85 court costs and a £ 22 victim surcharge.
