Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt was targeted during an anti-lockdown protest last summer.
An anti-lockdown protester has been sentenced after a BBC journalist was chased and called a traitor near Downing Street.
Joseph Olswang, 39, was part of a group of people who shouted abuse at Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt on 14 June 2021.Westminster Magistrates' Court heard he has bipolar disorder and was in the midst of a manic episode at the time.At a previous hearing Olswang, of Richmond-upon-Thames, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment toHe was found guilty of the same offence against PC Agnes Matvejeva.
Footage shared on social media showed demonstrators shouting abuse in the face of Mr Watt, who was wearing a BBC lanyard, as he tried to walk down the street behind a line of police officers. In mitigation, Olswang's barrister Eleanor De outlined his health issues, adding that the pandemic had "created a perfect storm for a mental health crisis".