A sex offender has avoided jail after driving his car into the gates of Downing Street in what a judge described as an “attack on democracy”.
Seth Kneller, 43, crashed his car into the gates protecting the prime minister’s residence on 25 May.
He had said in a TikTok video posted earlier that day that “someone has to pay”, as well as asking: “What is there to live for any more?”
Kneller also claimed he has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism.
The impact of the Kia Ceed being driven into the outer gates of No 10 caused them to swing open and left the main gates to Downing Street shaking, Southwark crown court heard.
When his phone was examined as part of the police investigation, it was found to contain three category A indecent images of children, the most serious type, and five category C images. The victims were aged eight to 12.
Kneller, from Crewe, was found to have accessed a website known to contain indecent images of children 393 times.
Prosecutor Alex Krikler said: “There were a number of armed police, unsurprisingly, on duty … who became aware of what the defendant had just done.
“They immediately drew their weapons and approached and shouted, ‘Armed police’. Officers approached and took the defendant out of the vehicle. He had just raised his hands.”
The prosecutor said Kneller’s actions were “pre-planned and deliberate”, which “clearly raised concerns” the attack was a terrorist one.
Judge Christopher Hehir said Kneller launched an “attack on democracy” but was persuaded to spare him prison.
He told him: “You quite deliberately performed a highly dangerous manoeuvre. There was a real risk of serious injury or death to police officers or innocent members of the public.”
He added: “You chose to launch a violent attack on a place which is a government location and in many ways a symbol of democracy.
“Your violent attack on it must be regarded by the courts as being of the utmost seriousness.”
Kneller’s 15-month prison term was suspended for two years and he must complete 30 rehabilitation days and 27 days of a separate rehabilitation programme.
He was also banned from driving for 18 months, can no longer use the phone and car used in the offending, and was made the subject of a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.
