Man fined £65 for disrupting Bristol's Remembrance Sunday parade
A MAN who disrupted Bristol's Remembrance Sunday parade has been fined just £65.
Paulo Da Silveira infuriated veterans and others who had gone to the ceremony on November 11 when he skateboarded past marching troops wearing a garish pink outfit and horns.
Roger Duddridge, vice chairman of the Bristol and Somerset Royal British Legion, said the punishment was typical of the British justice system.
He told The Post: "I can show you cases I picked off the internet.
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"One is someone being fined £50 for burning a Union Jack, in another someone desecrating a church and only gets a fine of about £80. It's just the way the British justice system seems to work."
Da Silveira was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday, after pleading guilty to a public order offence.
After the case he told The Post he was "sincerely sorry" for any distress he had caused by his actions.
The 38-year-old, who wore lipstick, mascara, a turquoise corset, blue and black stockings, pink shorts and white gloves for the hearing, said the first he knew of his offence was when he saw pictures of himself in print.
"I just found myself in the middle of things and didn't really know what was going on," Da Silveira, of Somerset House, Lawfords Gate, said.
"I just wanted to go to College Green to skateboard. I came down Nelson Street and I don't remember seeing any barriers and no one stopped me going through.
"It was only when I saw police that I realised I was amongst the parade. I remember people being aggressive but I had no intention of provoking anyone or protesting at all.
"I am just sincerely sorry for any distress I have caused."
Mr Duddridge was pleased Da Silveira had at least apologised.
"He upset a lot of ex-service people by what he did but the fact that he has claimed it was not a protest and has apologised I hope will soften the blow they suffered," said Mr Duddridge. "I am glad he has had some punishment because it will hopefully make other people think.
"If someone admits they are wrong they should be forgiven, providing they don't do it again. If he does, the book should be thrown at him."
Da Silveira had earlier admitted engaging in behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
May Li, prosecuting, said "a large number of people" had been at the ceremony when the skateboarder appeared.
"He was wearing a horned helmet, red corset, a set of pink frilly knickers, striped tights and a red and blue face mask," she said. "He skated alongside the bands and then through the police cordon towards the Cenotaph, causing distress to members of the public.
"They could be seen reacting strongly to his actions. He was stopped by a special constable. There was a struggle and he was arrested."
John Roberts, defending, said Da Silveira had mental health issues.
Mr Roberts said: "My client apologises unreservedly for any offence he may have caused to anybody. As far as he is concerned, it was not any form of protest.
"His care package had come to an end in August and he was not taking any medication. He dresses eccentrically and his intention was to go to College Green but he seems to have got into the cordon.
"He says he was in a world of his own. He didn't take in his surroundings and that he had caused serious offence to a number of people.
"When he was arrested there were threats of violence towards him."
Comments
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:37PM
“@NOWW1
"Our country does not have fine traditions regards respect and decency, our history being precisely why much of the world isn't terribly fond of us."
That would include standing alone against the Nazis, would it? Learn some history, please.
Not your fault really. School history teaching promotes that attitude for reasons that quite escape me.”
by welliedog2
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 3:25PM
“Paulo Da Silveira, not likely to have much sympathy for dead British heroes with a name like that is he now?
Forget 'Mental Health Issues', he should just be educated patiently to understand the sensitivities around Remembrance Day here in the UK and not act like a complete idiot, mental or otherwise.”
by NOWW1
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 11:50AM
“This whole episode has been very distressing, not least because it flags up event security as poorly managed.
Our country does not have fine traditions regards respect and decency, our history being precisely why much of the world isn't terribly fond of us.
I patiently await further news of the EDL fancy dress skate off Sheppy seems to be expecting.”
by 1MVBR
Monday, December 10 2012, 10:18AM
“@ Sheppy_Ribeye:
Your numbered points all make sense. I still think it's unreasonable to fine a vulnerable individual for skateboarding in a public place. I also think anyone offended by such admittedly odd, but harmless behaviour, needs to learn to be a little more tolerant and understanding.
You'll note I used the word 'harmless' above. This is why I object to the comparison with the EDL, who are a sinister bunch with political motives. I can't see that wanting to skateboard on college green in a pink outfit is in any way comparable with their policies. Perhaps you'd care to explain why you think it is?”
by Sheppy_Ribeye
Saturday, December 08 2012, 12:16AM
“Hey 1MVBR it would seem your better judgement needs help with it's learning. Let's run through this simply for you... one last effort:
1. "mental health issues" do not preclude someone from acting within the constraints of the law of the land.
2. Whether "disrespect was intended" or not is irrelevant to the legal case.
3. "being disrespectful is not a criminal offence" Correct! Well done, but offences under the Public Order Act of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, are; and that is what Paulo Da Silveira was charged with, pleaded guilty to, fined for.
What is wrong with us?!? Well, 1MVBR I guess we spend too much time with fact rather than fiction.
As for you previous comment of "comparing a brightly-dressed man with mental health issues on a skateboard with the English Defence League?" I actually think that's a very reasonable comparison to make...
...perhaps you hold them in higher regard than I.”
by 1MVBR
Friday, December 07 2012, 11:32AM
“Against my better judgement (when will I learn?) one last effort:
1. The key words in the report are "mental health issues"
2. There's no indication that any disrespect was intended
3. Even if it was, being disrespectful is not a criminal offence
Less rhetorical this time: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!”
by Morrissey9
Friday, December 07 2012, 11:27AM
“"This fool clearly has no respect. Turning up in court dressed like that is disrespectful. Skateboarding through a remembrance parade in that outfit is disrespectful.
Our country has fine traditions of decency and respect - this individual thinks he can ignore these with impunity"
It also has traditions of freedom of expression and a justice system which has some kind of proportionality. So he is free to be disrespectful if he wants. And a court case and the dishing out of a small fine for a minor intrusion into a parade is actually quite harsh therefore if you think about it. In Nazi Germany (who many of the people in the parade are commemorating their colleagues dying fighting) he'd have been strung up or slung in a camp in Poland.”
by ANDYJRM
Friday, December 07 2012, 10:59AM
“This fool clearly has no respect. Turning up in court dressed like that is disrespectful. Skateboarding through a remembrance parade in that outfit is disrespectful.
Our country has fine traditions of decency and respect - this individual thinks he can ignore these with impunity.”
by 1MVBR
Friday, December 07 2012, 9:37AM
“And now we're comparing a brightly-dressed man with mental health issues on a skateboard with the English Defence League?!
When will I learn not to waste my time debating with people who make this kind of nonsensical comparison?
That was a rhetorical question, by the way. I'm done here.”
by Sheppy_Ribeye
Thursday, December 06 2012, 9:55PM
“Seems like the anti-'the man' brigade believe you can do anything as long as you apologise afterwards...
...I didn't notice any of them being so forgiving when the EDL came to town.
It always amazes me how much those who promote liberality are so often so full of prejudice.
I wonder how many of the red-arrowers on this specific story also claim to hate the bigoted Daily Mail.
Oh the irony.”