Former prince Andrew outlines Sandringham encounter in witness statement.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s statement about alleged attack on him near his Sandringham residence was read aloud at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
In the witness statement, the former Duke of York outlined an encounter with a man wearing a ‘balaclava’, which was read out by Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram.
The 66-year-old claimed that he had been walking his dogs on the estate when he noticed a vehicle he initially believed belonged to press photographers.
After he and his security team drove past the car, King Charles’ younger brother alleged that a man “turned and faced me – he was wearing a balaclava face covering.”
He described the individual as appearing “out-of-place” and added: “I then saw a loose dog running towards him. Then he realised who I was and began to sprint after my vehicle.”
The alleged incident took place on May 6 in Wolferton, near Andrew’s Marsh Farm property, where he moved after being expelled from Windsor property.
Alex Jenkinson, 39, faces a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards the former royal, allegedly causing him to “fear unlawful violence” during the confrontation.
He denies the public order offence and also a further charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence against another man called Stephen Terry in King’s Lynn a day earlier.
Following the May 6 incident, he was held under the Mental Health Act for approximately one month. Suffolk Police is simultaneously pursuing a civil Stalking Protection Order against him, drawing on both Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s testimony and material recovered from searches of Mr Jenkinson’s phone.
The witness statement is expected to serve as the central piece of evidence in both the criminal and civil proceedings.
Thursday’s hearing proceeded without Mr Jenkinson present after court officials refused him entry for bringing his dog, Indie, into the building.
His solicitor, Claire Howell, explained to the judge that her client is currently without a permanent home and staying in a Travelodge, where he is unable to leave the animal unattended.
“It provides him with support, he suffers from ADHD,” she told the court.
Judge Ikram stated: “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.”
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Ikram granted an extension to the interim Stalking Protection Order that is currently in place against Jenkinson.
He also scheduled a pre-trial hearing for January 22 at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court. The full trial is set to take place at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 16.
