Man in court accused of dancing on ambulance during World Cup celebrations after England win

Trashed: an emergency response vehicle that was damaged on Borough High Street
PA
James Morris11 February 2019
WEST END FINAL

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A man accused of dancing on an ambulance during World Cup celebrations while sporting a Gareth Southgate-style waistcoat will stand trial for criminal damage.

James Elton, 27, is one of a group of people caught on camera climbing on the rapid response ambulance car in the wake of England's 2-0 victory over Sweden in July last year.

The vehicle had been parked close to London's Borough Market where crowds had gathered to watch the quarter-final match.

The ambulance suffered extensive damage to its bonnet and windscreen, as well as dents and scuffs to the roof as a result of being used as an impromptu stage.

Footage of the incident was broadcast by a number of news outlets and circulated widely on social media.

Elton appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Monday where he denied one count of damaging property.

Jim Sturman, defending Elton, said he accepts he is the man pictured in the footage climbing on the ambulance, but denies he caused any of the marks on the vehicle.

He described his client's dance moves as a "soft shoe shuffle" that would not have caused any harm.

Elton is due to stand trial alongside Perry Kangyue Jian, 26, from Poplar, London; Larissa Bell, 21, from East Kilbride, Glasgow; and Scott Dennett, 25, from Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, on June 24 this year.

Judge Jeremy Donne granted him unconditional bail until that date.

Reporting by Press Association.

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