In view of today’s media reports about her son Charlie Gilmour, Polly Samson would like to clarify the following inaccuracies:
Charlie Gilmour was charged with violent disorder for two incidents: for kicking the window of Top Shop, and for throwing a bin in the direction of the vehicles in the Royal convoy.
There was no charge in relation to the Cenotaph incident. Charlie Gilmour was aware what the Cenotaph is and who it honours, as he so clearly stated in his apology the following day. He was unaware of its location and therefore it was not a deliberate act of desecration.
Her tweets are conversations with friends, they are not announcements, and she is not running an ‘angry campaign’. Her tweets have been taken out of context.
Her tweet about wearing a ‘balaclava’, was in response to a tweet making a suggestion that he should have worn one! She emphatically does not think it should be necessary but it is those who come dressed for trouble (i.e. the ones seen on the news smashing up The Ritz, etc.) who get away scot free and it’s the students who are paying the (very heavy) price under this catch all charge of “violent disorder”.
“I am so proud of him” was in response to Bella Freud tweeting that she had received a cheering letter from Charlie Gilmour when her father died.
