Armour-clad man turned up to Parliament with samurai swords

A major security alert was sparked outside the House of Parliament when a man appeared in a suit of armour, allegedly carrying two samurai swords and asked to speak to Boris Johnson, a court heard.

Lewis Allington, 34, who appeared at Westminster magistrates court charged with two counts of possession of bladed articles, claims to be a British nobleman.

‘In his mind he had a clear right as an alderman to carry out that sort of behaviour,’ said prosecutor Murray Packenham.

Mr Packenham said that Allington does not recognise the court and believes he should be tried in the House of Lords.

Norman Cho, defending Allington, said that ‘he had no intention of using the swords in any way'.

‘He is not someone looking to harm someone with weapons. He believed he was serving his right as an alderman.’ said Mr Cho. 

Mr Cho recommended the case go before Crown Court due to Allington’s ‘complicated’ mental health issues.

The area was cordoned off following the incident on November 12, and police cars parked in front of Carriage Gates - one of the main entrances to the Palace of Westminster.

Following a mental health assessment District Judge Briony Clark said Allington should stay with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Trust to receive treatment.

Allington, of March, Cambridgeshire, is set to appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 12.

The judge referred to the defendant as ‘Sir Allington’ as she dismissed him from the court.