Pink Floyd star's son jailed for attack on Prince Charles convoy

The adopted son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour was "out of his mind" on drink and drugs when he hurled a litter bin at Prince Charles's convoy during a violent tuition fees protest.

He was jailed for 16 months today after admitting violent disorder in the protests last December.

His barrister David Spens QC told Kingston crown court that Cambridge student Charlie Gilmour, 21, had been on a week-long binge because of his rejection by his natural father, the poet and playwright Heathcote Williams.

He had taken alcohol and LSD into the early hours before arriving at the tuition fees demo in Parliament Square. He then drank whisky mixed with Valium that afternoon before attacking the Prince's protection officers' car.

Gilmour admitted sitting on the bonnet of the Jaguar carrying Charles's armed protection officers and later kicking the windows of Topshop in Oxford Circus.

But Mr Spens said the student "had no recollection" of being one of three demonstrators throwing bins and claimed "blurry" CCTV images did not offer a clear identification.

But today Judge Nicholas Price QC rejected the claims and ruled Gilmour had thrown the bin which hit the Jaguar. He was due to sentence Gilmour later today and warned him he faces prison. The maximum sentence for violent disorder is five years.

Mr Spens said Gilmour had entered "a dangerous downward spiral" at the time after a "humiliating meeting" with Mr Williams last September.

Watched by Gilmour's mother Polly Samson and Mr Gilmour, the QC added: "He went on a continual binge of licit and illicit drugs borne rather out of unhappiness than hedonism.

"His biological father had rejected him for no good reason and continued to reject him."

Mr Spens said Gilmour apologised. "He has let down himself, his family and other genuine protesters but it's not in his nature to be violent."