Buckingham Palace gates crash driver pleads guilty

A man who crashed his car into the Buckingham Palace gates has admitted causing damage put at more than £24,000.

Johnny Scott, 26, from Hornchurch, east London, appeared "fidgety and dazed" after he drove his VW Polo into the south centre gates on 9 March, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

No members of the Royal Family were in residence when the crash happened, a palace spokesman said at the time.

Scott, who was arrested by armed officers at the scene, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage. Medical reports were ordered before his next appearance at the same court on 13 February.

District Judge Annabel Pilling released Scott on conditional bail, telling him he was likely to receive a community-based penalty rather than a prison sentence.

She said: "You have entered a guilty plea today. You will be given credit for that as you have given a guilty plea at a very early opportunity."

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