My Place

Former health secretary Matt Hancock said he had never felt as intimidated when an anti-vaccination protester accused him of murdering people during the Covid pandemic, a court has heard.

Geza Tarjanyi, 62, is accused of shoulder-barging the MP and shouting " ridiculous Conspiracy Theories ".

He has denied causing harassment without violence.

Appearing as A Witness , Mr Hancock said he feared being pushed down an escalator by the protester.

" As a public figure, I can't recall a time when I felt as intimidated as this, " he told Westminster Magistrates' Court.

On The First occasion on 19 January, Mr Hancock was passing an anti-vaccination protest, along with a member of his staff, near Parliament where Mr Tarjanyi filmed him.

During the five-minute interaction, Mr Tarjanyi asked the MP for West Suffolk why he had " killed so many people" and shoulder-barged him, The Court heard.

The ex-minister said he felt " physically intimidated" and described Mr Tarjanyi as being " completely unreasonable".

He continued: " It made me feel unsafe going about My Place of work, it made me feel frustrated that instead of engaging in a normal debate, someone was trying to intimidate me, I thought that was unacceptable.

" I had a pretty good impression he had been taken over by these ridiculous Conspiracy Theories . "

Mr Hancock said one of the reasons he did not report The Incident on 19 January was because he did not want " these people with these untrue beliefs to get further publicity from harassing me".

A few days later on 24 January, after Mr Hancock had breakfast with the Prime Minister , Mr Tarjanyi followed him through Westminster underground station and on to a train for about 10 Minutes .

He again accused the MP of murdering people.

Mr Hancock said he recognised the defendant and felt " more intimidated" because he was on his own and tried to get Transport for London (TfL) staff to intervene.

But Mr Tarjanyi began harassing " anybody who was going to come To My aid" he told The Court .

The 44-year-old said he stopped at The Top of the escalator to " resolve the situation" but felt the defendant pushing him towards it.

" Obviously I was extremely worried at This Time . If I had lost my balance at that point, I would have tumbled down the escalator, " He Said .

" I was being pushed from behind, " said Mr Hancock, adding: " I had to work to maintain my balance and stop myself Falling Down the escalator. "

Both men then got on to a Jubilee Line train where Mr Tarjanyi accused the former health secretary of " murdering millions of people" before they were separated at Bond Street station, The Court heard.

Footage of The Second incident from the defendant's phone showed him calling Mr Hancock a " murderous scumbag" and saying lockdown amounted to harassment of the country due to his " lies and deceit".

Parveen Mansoor, defending, said Mr Tarjanyi denies any physical contact and believes it was Mr Hancock who " barged into him".

Meanwhile, prosecutor Nutan Fatania said Mr Hancock was " left shaken up by both incidents" and was concerned for his own safety.

Mr Hancock became a household name during the Covid pandemic when he regularly spoke for the government as health secretary under the then-Prime Minister , Boris Johnson .

The Following year he was forced to resign after images were published showing him kissing one of his advisers, Gina Coladangelo , who has since become his partner.

He remains suspended as a Tory MP for taking Time Off from his parliamentary duties to appear on I'm A Celebrity . . Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2022.

Source of news: bbc.com