This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30082706
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Plebgate' libel case: 'Police lied' about Mitchell | 'Plebgate' libel case: 'Police lied' about Mitchell |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police span a "web of lies" that led to a "vitriolic" campaign of "Plebgate" stories against ex-chief whip Andrew Mitchell, the High Court has heard. | |
| Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 after the Sun reported he had called Downing Street officers "plebs". | Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 after the Sun reported he had called Downing Street officers "plebs". |
| He is suing News Group Newspapers, with his lawyers saying the police account of the incident was "wholly false". | He is suing News Group Newspapers, with his lawyers saying the police account of the incident was "wholly false". |
| He accepts that he swore when police refused to open a Downing Street gate for him to leave on his bicycle. | He accepts that he swore when police refused to open a Downing Street gate for him to leave on his bicycle. |
| Giving evidence in court, the former cabinet minister apologised "unreservedly" for swearing but, denying he called officers plebs, told the judge: "My Lord, I did not say those words." | |
| 'Extremely unpleasant' | |
| The Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield says he asked politely if he could leave on his bike through the main Downing Street gates but denies losing his temper when police refused. | |
| His legal team accept that he swore and was issued with a verbal warning by diplomatic protection officer Toby Rowland PC, who said he would be arrested if it happened again. | |
| But Mr Mitchell's barrister James Price QC said: "This web of lies, deceit and indiscipline, and by police officers, led to Mr Mitchell and his family being subjected to an extremely unpleasant, indeed vitriolic, press campaign and a good deal of hostility from the public who believed what they had read in the press. | |
| "It also placed him in a position where he required considerable determination and, above all, confidence in the rightness of his position, to stand by his account of events." | |
| Separately, PC Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for comments the MP made following the incident. |