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A campaigner staged a sit-down protest to block access to a Brexit Party rally at Trago Mills in Merthyr, a court has heard.

Gareth Jamie Bevan, 43, was arrested on May 15 after sitting in the road outside the Merthyr Tydfil shop to stop people from reaching the event held by party leader Nigel Farage.

In a Welsh-language hearing held at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Friday cafe worker Bevan pleaded guilty to one count of acting contrary to the Highways Act 1980 by obstructing a free passage along a highway.

Prosecutor Ifor James said Bevan’s protest lasted around an hour in Swansea Road on the night of the event held shortly before the European Parliament elections.

Bevan, of Stryd Llyndeb, Merthyr, said he acted to send a message to the party and apologised to any shoppers at Trago Mills at the time. During the sentencing the campaigner, who represented himself, was accompanied by around 10 supporters.

He was fined £150 and made to pay £85 in costs and £35 in victim surcharge.

(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Speaking outside the court after the hearing the former Cymdeithas yr Iaith chairman said: “I felt I had no option.

“I felt a quiet little protest by the side of the road wasn’t going to draw attention to the fact that these people are not welcome in Merthyr by a large majority of the people here.

“Everything was conducted with respect, quietness – there was no shouting, no aggression on our behalf and I apologise for any legitimate shoppers who may have been inconvenienced for that very, very important message.”

The defendant added: “They are not legitimate political parties, they are far-right ideas which are not welcome in our communities.

“We have seen them ripping up our communities and our good work over the past few years and the only option I had was to sit in the middle of the road, not be moved, and say not everyone in Merthyr welcomes you and this ideology. It has to be stopped now.

“I feel our message has come across and I’m happy with that.”