Murdoch Foam Pie Attacker Gets Six Weeks

The comedian who threw a foam pie at Rupert Murdoch as the News Corp boss was giving evidence to MPs has been sentenced to six weeks in prison.

Jonathan May-Bowles , who is also known by his stage name Jonny Marbles, was told by a judge at Westminster Magistrates' Court he would have to serve at least half his sentence.

May-Bowles was also fined £250 and ordered to pay £250 costs.

The comedian, dressed casually in a checked shirt, remained impassive as his sentence was passed. He pleaded guilty last week to assault and causing harassment, alarm or distress.

The court heard how had flung a foam pie at Mr Murdoch as he began to conclude giving evidence to the Commons Culture Media and Sport Committee about the phone hacking scandal on July 19.

District Judge Daphne Wickham told him that Mr Murdoch's committee appearance had been "of huge importance to a number of people deeply affected by the conduct of employees at his organisation."

She told May-Bowles that dignity and a civilised approach were an important part of the parliamentary process, and said: "Everyone accepted that but you."

Explaining why she had chosen to ignore the usual sentencing guidelines Mrs Wickham said that only the intervention of others had prevented Mr Murdoch from coming to potentially greater harm.

"No one save you could have known what that foam was," she said.

"I have to take into account the fear that you caused in that room."

The court heard how Mr Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, had sprung to his defence, hitting May-Bowles and trying to fling the pie back at him.

Her husband wasn't injured in the incident and hadn't supported charges being pressed.

Defence lawyer Tim Greaves explained his client had only been trying to express his anger and disappointment at News International "in the least harmful way he knew."

Slapstick and throwing pies, he argued, had been used as a form of protest since the early 1900s.

In mitigation, he assured the court that May-Bowles was a 26-year-old family man of good character who never intended to do anything like this again.

Explaining his actions, May-Bowles said after the attack: "I guess I did it because I had no faith in the Parliamentary process and I wanted to see some kind of justice done."

But in a hearing that lasted just 20 minutes, Judge Wickham made it clear a custodial sentence had been inevitable.

May-Bowles' lawyer returned to court later to announce that the protester was appealing against his sentence and to apply for bail.

Mr Greaves argued that the jail term was "excessive" and that sentencing guidelines had not been followed, and said it was likely that May-Bowles would have served his sentence in full by the time the appeal came before a crown court judge.

But Mrs Wickham said she was not prepared to grant bail and ordered the comedian to remain in custody.