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Plebgate libel trial: PC Rowland 'invented account' Plebgate libel trial: PC Rowland denies inventing account
(about 1 hour later)
A policeman who claimed Andrew Mitchell called him a "pleb" has been accused of inventing his account of the incident. A policeman who claimed Andrew Mitchell called him a "pleb" has denied inventing his account of the incident.
PC Toby Rowland was on duty in September 2012 when the then cabinet minister attempted to leave Downing Street via the main gate. PC Toby Rowland was on duty in September 2012 when the then cabinet minister attempted to leave Downing Street on his bike via the main gate.
Their ensuing altercation made front page news and cost Mr Mitchell his job.Their ensuing altercation made front page news and cost Mr Mitchell his job.
But at the High Court, the so-called "plebgate" libel trial has been told PC Rowland made up the claim to justify issuing the Tory MP with a warning. At the High Court, the officer told the so-called "plebgate" libel trial he had recorded "exactly what Mr Mitchell said as soon after the event as possible".
The case centres on a confrontation between PC Rowland and Mr Mitchell, after police refused to open the main security gate at the entrance to Downing St when the then minister was trying to leave by bike. A judge will decide on the conflicting accounts of what happened.
On Tuesday the court heard that PC Rowland had told Mr Mitchell to stop swearing and that he would be arrested if he continued. 'Definitely agitated'
'An invention'
Mr Mitchell - who admits swearing but denies it was aimed at the officer - is suing News Group Newspapers for the Sun newspaper's coverage of the clash.Mr Mitchell - who admits swearing but denies it was aimed at the officer - is suing News Group Newspapers for the Sun newspaper's coverage of the clash.
At the same time, PC Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for comments the former minister made in the media and at a press conference a year later.At the same time, PC Rowland is suing Mr Mitchell for comments the former minister made in the media and at a press conference a year later.
The officer claims the MP for Sutton Coldfield called police "plebs" who should learn their place. The officer claims that, in an expletive-laden exchange, the MP for Sutton Coldfield called police "plebs" who should learn their place.
But in court, James Price QC - who is representing Mr Mitchell - suggested that the words attributed to him were "an invention". But in court the judge, Mr Justice Mitting, questioned PC Rowland's claim that members of the public were alarmed by the incident.
"You told me the words were being spoken at you at conversational volume by a man within a gated compound," he told the officer.
"I don't at the moment understand how anyone outside the gates could be caused alarm by it."
PC Rowland told the judge Mr Mitchell was "definitely agitated" and that people could have been caused distress by the language used.
'An invention'
James Price QC - who is representing Mr Mitchell - suggested that the words attributed to him were "an invention".
PC Rowland replied: "The evidence I've given is the truth."PC Rowland replied: "The evidence I've given is the truth."
Mr Price said the officer had been "reconstructing events from bits of evidence" he had seen.Mr Price said the officer had been "reconstructing events from bits of evidence" he had seen.
The policeman responded: "My evidence has been clear and consistent throughout."The policeman responded: "My evidence has been clear and consistent throughout."
He said that, during the exchanges with Mr Mitchell, the word "pleb" - which he claimed not to have known the meaning of at the time - had been an "irrelevance", because he was more concerned about the swearing.He said that, during the exchanges with Mr Mitchell, the word "pleb" - which he claimed not to have known the meaning of at the time - had been an "irrelevance", because he was more concerned about the swearing.
PC Rowland was asked by the judge, Mr Justice Mitting, when he found out the meaning of the word "pleb". PC Rowland was asked by Mr Justice Mitting when he found out the meaning of the word "pleb".
The officer said he had read a definition in a newspaper shortly afterwards when, he said, it "referred to plebeian and all of that".The officer said he had read a definition in a newspaper shortly afterwards when, he said, it "referred to plebeian and all of that".
The trial is being heard by a judge who will rule on the two claims in a fortnight. Mr Justice Mitting will rule in a fortnight.