January 15, 2014 - 1:43 PM
LONDON - A man who tried to dart through a gate at Buckingham Palace armed with a 6-inch knife has been sentenced to 16 months in jail.
David Belmar had pleaded guilty to trespassing and possession of a bladed article for the October incident. He was tackled after jumping over a vehicle barrier outside the palace.
Prosecutors say the 44-year-old takes medication for mental health issues and has a fixation on the queen.
Judge Michael Gledhill sentenced Belmar on Wednesday at Southwark Crown Court to 16 months in jail, saying that mental illness had "absolutely nothing to do" with his offences. He says Belmar pulled a "stunt" to attract publicity to a grievance about his benefits.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014