'Anti-vaxxer' hurled rocks at Covid vaccine centres after seeing 'evidence on the internet'
A security guard was injured by flying shards of glass
A Warrington man hurled stones through windows at two vaccination centres injuring a security guard as part of an "anti-vaxx" campaign.
Conspiracy theorist Paul Edwards, 58, struck in December last year at the centres in North Wales, where he was staying with his father after being kicked out of the marital home in Cheshire.
Edwards was found guilty of two counts of damaging property at Mold Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday), after the attacks in Llandudno and St Asaph. He told the court he believed his actions were a "last chance" to get his anti-vaccination message across, reports WalesOnline.
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In a late turn of events, Edwards - who chose to represent himself - changed his plea to guilty to a charge of common assault on Wendy McGee, a security guard at the Llandudno centre who was injured during his protest. The trial previously heard how Ms McGee was working late at the coronavirus vaccination centre when Edwards struck on December 14, 2021.
He sent glass "everywhere" when he hurled "at least half a dozen" rocks gathered from the local beach through the windows and door. The court heard how flying shards had caused cuts to Ms McGee's face as she frantically called for help. The overall experience of being confronted by Edwards - who was wearing a black T-shirt bearing an anti-vaccination message - left her feeling shaken.
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Edwards told the jury that from sitting in the dock he could see first-hand how Ms McGee was not "exaggerating her fear". He apologised for hurting her and said he "didn’t mean to."
The 58-year-old accepted that it was "reckless" to carry on throwing stones when he knew Ms McGee could be harmed. However, he carried on anyway.
He added: "When I set off to cause damage at the Llandudno centre, with my bag full of rocks I had picked up from the beach, I was hoping the centre would be empty. When I saw the light on in the upper floor, I realised there must have been a security guard still on the premises.
"Nevertheless, I steeled myself to do what I had set out to do. I decided this was the last chance of making an impact in influencing people against the vaccines."
Mr Edwards went on to say his drastic actions came after he had "tried other options and failed". He had previously resorted to posting his views online, dissuading people from getting their Covid jabs, but it wasn't having the desired impact.
The jury had heard evidence that the very next day, December 15, Edwards spent "about 15 minutes" smashing several windows at the OpTIC building in St Asaph. His overall spree of damage ended up costing more than £11,000, prosecutor Anna Price confirmed on Monday.
He said he was "not ashamed" of his actions when breaking the windows. He claimed that the "adverse impact" caused by restrictions he deemed were "unnecessary" amongst views that people getting jabbed risked being hurt or killed by its contents were his primary motivation.
Edwards told the court: "I have seen lots of evidence on the internet pointing towards vaccine harm. Much of this evidence, even if I could get my hands on it, would not be admissible in court, but I believe this and not the official version..
"I am inclined to trust the whistleblowers, willing to risk their professional reputations and their livelihoods to expose the truth rather than those who are well rewarded to keep their mouths shut. Those who go along with the agenda set by pharmaceutical companies."
Judge Rhys Rowlands warned Edwards to expect jail when he is sentenced today (Thursday). He told him: "It is not up to individuals, however genuine their views are, to impose them on other people. There would be a whole stream of what you would say are misguided people that I would say were genuinely worried, elderly and vulnerable people wanting their injections.
"You put that at risk, and intended to properly do so. This is something that is far too serious to be dealt with than anything but a custodial sentence."
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