Pair had denied alleged trespass at Labour leader’s house in New Fathers 4 Justice demonstration

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The case against two men accused of trespassing on the roof of Jeremy Corbyn’s home to stage a demonstration has been dropped.

Robert Smith, 34, and Martin Matthews, 49, were expected to go on trial after a court previously heard they carried out a rooftop protest at the Labour leader’s terraced home in Islington, north London, on 5 August.

But the case against the pair, accused of trespassing to demonstrate for the New Fathers 4 Justice campaign group, has been discontinued, Westminster magistrates court heard.

Smith, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and Matthews, of Bookham, Surrey, each denied aggravated trespass and a charge of failure to leave the land at a hearing in September.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “This case was originally charged by the police. We reviewed the case in accordance with the Code for crown prosecutors and concluded there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

“We therefore proposed to the police that the case was discontinued and they agreed with this approach.”

A spokeswoman for Corbyn said: “Jeremy is not commenting on this case.”



It is understood that Corbyn did not bring the case, was not at home when the alleged incident happened and has not been involved in the legal proceedings.