Palace knifeman wanted to see Queen about benefits

OHMYGOSSIP — The man who tried to get into Buckingham Palace armed with a knife earlier this week wanted to confront Queen Elizabeth after his incapacity benefits were cut.

The knifeman who tried to get into Buckingham Palace wanted to meet Queen Elizabeth after his benefits were cut.

David Belmar admitted trespass and possession of a bladed article after running through the palace’s north gate on Monday (14.10.13) at around 11:30am armed with a six-inch knife, but insists he had no intention of using the weapon and just wanted “publicity” for his predicament, a court heard yesterday (15.10.13).

Speaking at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London, Edward Aydin, prosecuting, said: “In police custody, he said to police, ‘I wanted to see the queen. I’m not happy about my benefits.’ “

Mr. Aydin claimed Belmar – who was cautioned in 1989 for throwing lit fireworks into the palace grounds – is “fixated” with the monarch and is a “danger” to her.

He said: “Armed guards had to stop him. He could have been fired upon. Other people could have been hurt. And there was a risk of some form of disorder there outside the palace.

“His behaviour that morning, yesterday, was unpredictable. He is a danger to the public, carrying a knife in central London, and he is a danger to the queen.”

The 44-year-old man – who was under the care of mental health services from 2002 to 2010 – had to be rugby tackled to the ground by police after running through the palace gate.

Robert Katz, defending, denied Belmar was “fixated” with the queen or the palace and claims he was just upset after his incapacity benefits were stopped in September after 10 years.

He said: “He became very upset by that decision and he didn’t know how he was going to cope.”

Mr. Katz also insisted Belmar never intended to use the knife and just “wanted to draw publicity to what had happened to him”.

Belmar has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be set.