Pink Floyd star's son charged over theft of mannequin at tuition fees protest

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12 April 2012

The son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has been charged with violent disorder and theft of a mannequin leg during a student fees protest.

Charlie Gilmour, 21, was one of seven people charged last night by the Metropolitan Police as part of Operation Malone launched after a number of high-profile demonstrations in central London.

He will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 10.

The Cambridge University student was photographed hanging from a Union flag on the Cenotaph during the protest against an increase in tuition fees on December 9.

He was among thousands who descended on Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square ahead of the key Commons vote.

Gilmour issued an apology the next day, describing his actions as a "moment of idiocy" and admitting he did not realise the monument in Whitehall commemorated Britain's war dead. He was arrested on December 12.

His statement at the time said: "I would like to express my deepest apologies for the terrible insult to the thousands of people who died bravely for our country that my actions represented."

Gilmour, who has also been on the books of modelling agency Select Model Management, is the son of writer and journalist Polly Samson.

His biological father is the poet and playwright Heathcote Williams but he was adopted by Gilmour when his mother remarried.

The December 9 protest also saw rioters attack the car carrying the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to the Royal Variety Performance as the demonstration descended into violence. Police made around 30 arrests.

Christopher Hilliard, 22, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, and a 17-year-old man, also from Cheshire, were both charged with violent disorder and will also appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 10.

Three men have also been charged with offences during the protest on November 24.

James Cross, 26, of Lewisham, south-east London, and Kevin Wilson-Web, 50, from Kensington, west London, were charged with theft of police equipment.

Justin Sey, 28, from Barnet, north London, was charged with criminal damage to a Government building.

James Jeffal, 19, from Willesden Lane, north London, was charged with causing fear of unlawful violence during the protests on November 30.

They will all appear at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on February 10.

Five others, who were arrested on the day they took part in the protests, were cautioned.

A 19-year-old man from south-east London was cautioned for theft on November 10, while a 20-year-old man from east London was cautioned for assaulting a police officer during the November 30 protest.

An 18-year-old man was cautioned for criminal damage on November 30, and a 17-year-old was given a reprimand.

Police also cautioned a 23-year-old man for causing fear of unlawful violence.

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