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Pensioner framed innocent man over Westminster Bridge terror attack

Gerald Banyard (MPS)
Gerald Banyard (MPS)

A pensioner who tried to frame an innocent man over the Westminster Bridge terror attack is on the run after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Gerald Banyard, 67, sent two notes to police in the aftermath of the March 2017 attack, suggesting his landlord’s partner was in league with terrorist Khalid Masood.

Officers investigated the claims which turned out to be bogus, realising Banyard had sent the notes “out of spite” after a housing dispute.

He was yesterday found guilty at Southwark crown court of two counts of perverting the course of justice, following a two-week trial.

However Banyard failed to turn up for court when the verdict was delivered, and a warrant has now been issued for his arrest.

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“In the immediate aftermath of the Westminster attack, our main priority was to establish whether the attacker might have plotted with others, and whether there was any outstanding threat”, said Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

MPS
MPS

“This involved scores of officers working around the clock and pursuing various lines of enquiry in order to keep the public safe.

“Banyard looked to exploit an extremely tragic and serious situation to try and settle what was a private dispute with his landlord. His actions meant that counter terrorism resources were diverted to investigate what turned out to be a completely fabricated story which implicated an innocent man.

“His actions were disgraceful and completely reckless and I hope this conviction demonstrates how seriously the police and courts take this type of offending.”

Masood killed five people and injured many more on March 22, 2017 as he rammed pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge.

After crashing the vehicle, he ran through the gates of Parliament while armed with a knife and fatally stabbed PC Keith Palmer. Masood was then shot dead by armed police.

On March 30, 2017, Banyard delivered a package to the front counter of Brighton police station containing two handwritten notes.

The first note purported to be from an American tourist called ‘Kevin’, and the second note was addressed to a “Khalid”.

MPS
MPS

Two days later, another letter was sent through the post via a sorting office in Leeds, marked for the urgent attention of Scotland Yard detectives investigating the Westminster Bridge attack.

Inside was a note identifying a man from Eastbourne who was said to have been in communication with Masood, including his phone numbers.

The innocent man was questioned about the notes, and he picked out Banyard as someone who may have been trying to frame him, due to a landlord-tenant dispute with his partner.

In a raid at Banyard’s home in Whalley, Lancashire, police found notes and documents showing his handwriting, as well as evidence tying him to the Leeds area when the second letter was sent.

Banyard denied trying to frame the man and was charged in 2019. A date has not yet been set for his sentencing hearing.

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