1981: Queen's 'fantasy assassin' jailed

A teenage boy who fired blank shots at the Queen during a Trooping of the Colour ceremony has pleaded guilty to a charge under the 1848 Treason Act and been jailed for five years.

The Queen was startled when 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant fired several shots in her direction as she was riding in a parade down the Mall in June, but was unharmed.

Lord Chief Justice Lane said the teenager's original intention was to use a real gun, but when he could not get hold of one he carried out a "fantasy assassination".

Sarjeant - described as a shy loner haunted by failure - was inspired by attempts on the lives of US President Ronald Reagan and the Pope.

The court heard the teenager from Capel le Ferne near Folkestone in Kent was also obsessed with the murders of President John F Kennedy and John Lennon.

Lord Lane said there was little doubt the incident could have been far worse.

"You tried to get a licence, you tried to get a gun - you were not able to obtain either," he told the court.

I am going to stun and mystify the whole world with nothing more than a gun

Sarjeant diary entry

