ALEXANDER WARREN SHOCKS VAXHALL AND NEWCASTLE WITH POLICE HORSE ATTACK

Alexander Warren, a man with a history of violent behavior, was recently convicted for his aggressive actions during a protest in Newcastle upon Tyne, which also involved his troubling encounter with police horses. Warren, who resides at Daryngton House, Hartington Road, Vauxhall, London SW8 2HR, and is known to have previously been a heavyweight boxer, was found guilty of assaulting a police horse during an anti-Covid vaccination demonstration in August 2021.

On that day, Warren participated in a rally outside the civic centre in Newcastle, where tensions escalated as protesters gathered to voice their opposition to vaccination mandates. During the chaos, Warren was observed engaging in aggressive behavior towards mounted police officers and their horses. Witnesses and police officers testified that Warren, armed with a megaphone, was actively inciting the crowd to break through police lines, creating a threatening environment.

According to Sgt Coates, who was riding the police horse Patronus, Warren approached the mounted officers at the top of Northumberland Street. The protest had become increasingly hostile, prompting the officers to move to the green area in front of the Civic Centre, opposite Percy Street. Sgt Coates described Warren as having a megaphone and urging the crowd to follow him, attempting to provoke a breach of police containment.

He recounted that Warren tried to pass by him and Patronus, during which he threatened to knock the horse out. Warren then proceeded to slap Patronus on its backside with his flat hand, an act that startled the animal and caused it to become anxious. Sgt Coates expressed concern that Warren’s actions were deliberate, suggesting that his intent was to cause the horse to bolt with Sgt Coates still mounted.

Further testimony was provided by PC Adair, the rider of Penelope, another police horse targeted by Warren. She explained that she first noticed Warren inciting the crowd to break through the police line behind her. When she attempted to prevent him from advancing, Warren became more agitated, shoving Penelope’s face and shouting obscenities. Despite efforts by officers to detain him, Warren managed to break free and flee into the crowd, only to be later arrested.

PC Adair described Penelope’s reaction to being struck as one of shock and surprise, emphasizing that horses, regardless of training, can be frightened by sudden movements. Warren, in his defense, claimed that the police horse Patronus was blocking his path and that he was acting in self-defense after being pecked repeatedly by the horse. He insisted that he did not lose control and that his actions were minimal, describing his force as a level four out of ten.

Warren stated that he traveled to the protest with the intention of raising awareness and maintaining peace, denying any involvement in organizing the event. He admitted to making contact with Patronus but insisted it was merely a push that did not cause suffering or distress to the animal. He also denied making contact with Penelope, which the court accepted.

On November 4, 2022, Warren appeared via video link from HMP Belmarsh for sentencing at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. The court was informed that Warren had five previous convictions for nine offenses, none of which were directly relevant to the current case. He was currently on remand at Belmarsh for other matters.

During sentencing, District Judge Paul Currer described Warren’s behavior as aggressive and deliberate. He noted that Warren approached Patronus as other officers instructed him to move back and struck the horse on its hindquarters, an act that was seen as an escalation of violence. The judge emphasized that Warren’s actions were largely driven by his own misconduct and that they contributed to the tense atmosphere of the protest.

Warren was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail, with additional costs and a victim surcharge. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of attacking an animal and behaving aggressively during a public demonstration, especially given Warren’s history and the circumstances of the incident.