Man jailed for Kensington Palace trespass

A man who twice broke into the grounds of Kensington Palace in the days before Christmas has been sentenced to 32 weeks in prison.

Derek Egan, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass on a protected site and when asked why he went to the palace told Westminster Magistrates Court "because I am a criminal".

Egan, of Hillingdon, also breached his bail conditions which banned him from going back to the site.

The west London palace is sometimes home to the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.

Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram handed Egan 16 weeks in prison for each trespass offence and ordered for both terms to be served consecutively.

Egan first climbed over a fence and got into the palace's garden on 22 December at about 04:00 GMT, the court heard.

He was taken to a police station and bailed, but went back a day later.

During the sentencing hearing the judge asked Egan "why did you go there?", to which Egan replied: "Because I am a criminal."

The judge then asked: "Are you well? Are there any issues in your life?"

Egan said: "All is fine."

The judge also pointed out that jail was a possible punishment and Egan said: "I suppose I am happy as a criminal to follow whatever judgment (of) yourself and your court today."

The judge told Egan, who chose to represent himself at court, that "the offences are serious".

It is a criminal offence to trespass on a protected site designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (Socpa) 2005.

A new exclusion zone recently came into force around the Wales's new family home in Windsor Great Park, Forest Lodge.

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