Former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was chased by an alleged masked stalker near his Sandringham estate, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Thursday (August 6). The incident, which occurred on May 6 in Wolferton, Norfolk, has led to criminal charges and a civil Stalking Protection Order application against Alex Jenkinson, 39, from Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Face-to-face confrontation with balaclava-clad man
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram read parts of Andrew's witness statement, which is expected to be central to both legal proceedings. Andrew said he was walking his dogs on the estate when he spotted a car he believed belonged to press photographers. His security detail drove past the vehicle, and a man 'turned and faced me – he was wearing a balaclava face covering'.
Andrew described the man as 'out-of-place' and recounted: "I then saw a loose dog running towards him. Then he realised who I was and began to sprint after my vehicle." The confrontation allegedly caused Andrew to fear unlawful violence, according to court documents.
Jenkinson absent from hearing due to dog
The hearing proceeded in Jenkinson's absence after he arrived with his dog, Indie, and was refused entry to the courtroom. His lawyer, Claire Howell, told the judge: "He has had to bring his dog with him, so he wasn’t allowed inside the court. He is homeless and currently in accommodation in a Travelodge. He is not allowed to leave the dog there. It provides him with support, he suffers from ADHD."
However, Howell conceded she had no documents to verify Jenkinson's medical condition or his need for a support animal. Judge Ikram responded: "I’m not prepared to have a dog in the courtroom simply because he is homeless and he happens to keep a dog. I’m not saying he is not telling the truth but there’s nothing to corroborate it. We accommodate people who have ADHD and have support animals. I would want something more than he is homeless and happens to have a dog."
Stalking Protection Order application
The judge agreed to adjourn the Stalking Protection Order application and allowed the hearing to proceed in Jenkinson's absence. Howell informed the court that Jenkinson has since found temporary accommodation where he can leave the dog for future hearings, adding: "I don’t want to give character evidence on behalf of the dog, but having spent the last hour and a half with him, I can say he is a very well-behaved animal."
Jenkinson was detained under the Mental Health Act for about a month after the May 6 incident. He has pleaded guilty to failing to provide a blood specimen while in custody on May 6 but denies the public order offence against Andrew. He also denies a separate charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence against another man, Stephen Terry, in King’s Lynn on May 5.
Phone searches and bail conditions
At a July hearing, the court heard that evidence from Jenkinson's phone – including alleged searches on Andrew, Sandringham, and 'weapons' – would feature in the trial. Jenkinson is on bail with conditions not to approach sites linked to the Royal Family, including Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor, and Highgrove. He must also not contact Andrew directly or indirectly, approach him, or enter Norfolk.
Upcoming hearings and witness evidence
Judge Ikram ruled that Andrew, Mr Terry, and an eyewitness to the Norfolk incident must give evidence for a second time at the hearing to determine the Stalking Protection Order application. He said: "I am persuaded that fairness demands the respondent to these proceedings (Jenkinson) be allowed to call and cross-examine these witnesses."
Andrew is due to give evidence by video link at the trial set for December 21. The judge extended the interim Stalking Protection Order and scheduled a pre-trial hearing at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court for January 22, with the final hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 16.
