Ferry claims doorman in Commons throttled him

Britain: Otis Ferry, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry, told a London court yesterday how he was throttled by a doorkeeper at…

Britain: Otis Ferry, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry, told a London court yesterday how he was throttled by a doorkeeper at the House of Commons after he and a group of pro-hunting demonstrators invaded the chamber.

Mr Ferry described how the doorman "pounced" on him as he lay on the floor, still trying to address rural affairs minister Alun Michael.

The 22-year-old claims he struggled to breathe as the doorkeeper tried to silence him.

He also alleged that another doorman put his knee against his back and described their actions as "unnecessarily forceful".

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Mr Ferry was one of a group of eight pro-hunting demonstrators who stormed the Commons chamber on September 15th last year during a debate on a bill to ban the sport.

At their trial at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London yesterday, Mr Ferry told how, after bursting into the chamber, he tried to address Mr Michael directly.

"I then felt somebody touching my shoulder. I looked around to see it was a guard or a doorman. I immediately dropped to the floor to make it clear I was not going to push him around. I continued to look up at Alun Michael and told him that what he was doing was incredibly unjust.

"I continued to talk and raise my voice, then one of the doormen pounced on me and started throttling me in an attempt to silence me. I could not breathe. Another one put his knee against my back."

Mr Ferry said that after they allowed him to his feet, he walked out of the chamber peacefully.

The trial continues.