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'Plebgate' libel case: 'Police lied' about Mitchell | 'Plebgate' libel case: 'Police lied' about Mitchell |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police spun a "web of lies" that led to a "vitriolic" campaign against ex-chief whip Andrew Mitchell and his family, the High Court has heard. | |
Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 in what became known as "plebgate", after the Sun said he had called officers plebs. | Mr Mitchell resigned in 2012 in what became known as "plebgate", after the Sun said he had called officers plebs. |
He is suing News Group Newspapers, with his lawyers arguing the police account of the incident was "wholly false". | He is suing News Group Newspapers, with his lawyers arguing the police account of the incident was "wholly false". |
The MP accepts that he swore when police refused to open a Downing Street gate for him to leave on his bicycle. | The MP accepts that he swore when police refused to open a Downing Street gate for him to leave on his bicycle. |
Also at the High Court in London, Mr Mitchell is being sued by one of the officers on duty at the time for comments he made following the incident. | Also at the High Court in London, Mr Mitchell is being sued by one of the officers on duty at the time for comments he made following the incident. |
Warning: The rest of this report includes explicit language | Warning: The rest of this report includes explicit language |
Giving evidence, the former cabinet minister apologised "unreservedly" for swearing but denied calling officers plebs, telling the judge: "My Lord, I did not say those words." | Giving evidence, the former cabinet minister apologised "unreservedly" for swearing but denied calling officers plebs, telling the judge: "My Lord, I did not say those words." |
But in witness statements the court heard of Mr Mitchell's propensity for bad language and allegations he had previously insulted and sworn at officers. | |
Mr Mitchell said that on 19 September 2012 he had been in a rush to leave Downing Street where, as the MP in charge of government discipline, he had an office. | |
Police refused to open the vehicle gate - normally closed for security reasons - despite him pointing out he was the chief whip, Mr Mitchell told the court. | Police refused to open the vehicle gate - normally closed for security reasons - despite him pointing out he was the chief whip, Mr Mitchell told the court. |
The Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield denies losing his temper but says he swore and muttered under his breath that he thought police were supposed to "help us". | The Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield denies losing his temper but says he swore and muttered under his breath that he thought police were supposed to "help us". |
Mr Mitchell's legal team accept that he swore and was issued with a verbal warning by diplomatic protection officer PC Toby Rowland, who told the MP he would be arrested if it happened again. | Mr Mitchell's legal team accept that he swore and was issued with a verbal warning by diplomatic protection officer PC Toby Rowland, who told the MP he would be arrested if it happened again. |
Representing Mr Mitchell, James Price QC told the court one of the officers on duty had described the incident as a minor altercation that should not have been taken any further. | Representing Mr Mitchell, James Price QC told the court one of the officers on duty had described the incident as a minor altercation that should not have been taken any further. |
But it ended up as front page news, the court heard, when other officers - one of whom who had not been present at the gate - leaked the police account to the Sun. | But it ended up as front page news, the court heard, when other officers - one of whom who had not been present at the gate - leaked the police account to the Sun. |
'Extremely unpleasant' | 'Extremely unpleasant' |
The girlfriend of another officer was persuaded to tell the newspaper she was a passing tourist and had witnessed the incident, while another who was not present emailed Mr Mitchell's deputy chief whip, making a similar claim. | The girlfriend of another officer was persuaded to tell the newspaper she was a passing tourist and had witnessed the incident, while another who was not present emailed Mr Mitchell's deputy chief whip, making a similar claim. |
The tabloid reported that, in an expletive-laden exchange, Mr Mitchell told the officers on duty: "Best you learn your fucking place. You don't run this fucking government, you're fucking plebs." | The tabloid reported that, in an expletive-laden exchange, Mr Mitchell told the officers on duty: "Best you learn your fucking place. You don't run this fucking government, you're fucking plebs." |
Mr Price described the police accounts as "wholly false". | Mr Price described the police accounts as "wholly false". |
He said: "This web of lies, deceit and indiscipline... 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." | He said: "This web of lies, deceit and indiscipline... 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." |
The "lies brought Mr Mitchell down, destroying a political career of 27 years," he added. | The "lies brought Mr Mitchell down, destroying a political career of 27 years," he added. |
PC Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for statements the MP made in the media from December 2012 and in a press conference in November last year. | PC Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for statements the MP made in the media from December 2012 and in a press conference in November last year. |
'Jekyll and Hyde' | 'Jekyll and Hyde' |
The police officer's barrister, Desmond Browne QC, told the court Mr Mitchell was a "Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll" character who mixed "charm and menace". | The police officer's barrister, Desmond Browne QC, told the court Mr Mitchell was a "Mr Hyde and Dr Jekyll" character who mixed "charm and menace". |
"The capacity for menace finds its outlet in both a foul temper and foul language," he said. | "The capacity for menace finds its outlet in both a foul temper and foul language," he said. |
Mr Browne also said the MP had previously insulted another police officer in 2011, telling him: "That's a bit above your pay grade, Mr Plod." | Mr Browne also said the MP had previously insulted another police officer in 2011, telling him: "That's a bit above your pay grade, Mr Plod." |
It was possible a light-hearted exchange occurred, Mr Mitchell said, but he told the court he had no recollection of it. | It was possible a light-hearted exchange occurred, Mr Mitchell said, but he told the court he had no recollection of it. |
The barrister also pointed to another alleged incident when Mr Mitchell is said to have told a police officer at an entrance to Westminster: "Stop being so aggressive, you little shit." | The barrister also pointed to another alleged incident when Mr Mitchell is said to have told a police officer at an entrance to Westminster: "Stop being so aggressive, you little shit." |
He was also accused of telling the officer: "I'm an MP and I'm too important to stop for you". | He was also accused of telling the officer: "I'm an MP and I'm too important to stop for you". |
Mr Mitchell said he did not think he used the swear word attributed to him but knew "for absolutely certain" he would not say something about being too important. | Mr Mitchell said he did not think he used the swear word attributed to him but knew "for absolutely certain" he would not say something about being too important. |
The court heard in a witness statement from musician and campaigner Bob Geldof that Mr Mitchell was "no slouch" when it came to swearing, while a statement from Lord Coe referred to him using "fruity language". | The court heard in a witness statement from musician and campaigner Bob Geldof that Mr Mitchell was "no slouch" when it came to swearing, while a statement from Lord Coe referred to him using "fruity language". |
At the end of the two-week trial, judge Mr Justice Mitting will rule on which claim of what was said at the Downing Street gates was substantially true. | At the end of the two-week trial, judge Mr Justice Mitting will rule on which claim of what was said at the Downing Street gates was substantially true. |