Rock star's son in Cenotaph case pleads ignorance

The son of Pink Floyd star David Gilmour did not realise he was swinging from the Cenotaph during university fees protests in London because he was intoxicated and was "brought up in the country... without a television", the Court of Appeal heard yesterday.

Charlie Gilmour, who was studying history at Cambridge University, was "aware there was a Cenotaph" and aware of "its significance," but did not realise the "monument from which he was swinging was a war memorial – let alone the Cenotaph," three judges were told.

David Spens QC told Lord Justice Hughes, Mr Justice Cranston and Mr Justice Hickinbottom this "was not actually as surprising as might have been thought" given Gilmour's background. The comments were made as Mr Spens urged the judges to reduce the 16-month sentence imposed on the 21-year-old in July for violent disorder after he went on the rampage in December 2010. The judges are expected to reserve their decision until next week.