Trump UK visit: Man charged over paraglider protest at US president's golf course in Scotland

Demonstrator trailing banner reading 'Trump well below par' drifted within metres of American leader as snipers watched on from hotel roof

Police have charged a 55-year-old man over a protest in which a paraglider sailed within metres of Donald Trump as the US president visited his golf course in Scotland.

A demonstrator trailing a banner reading “Trump well below par” flew past the American leader at his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire on Friday, as protests took place across Britain over his controversial visit to the UK.

The stunt, orchestrated by environmental group Greenpeace, was condemned by Police Scotland, which said the activist had placed themselves in “grave danger” as snipers watched on from the hotel’s roof.

The force launched an investigation into an alleged breach of a no-fly zone around the course.

A spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a 55-year-old man has been arrested and has now been charged in connection with an incident when a powered parachute was flown in the vicinity of the Turnberry Hotel around 9.45pm on Friday 13 July 2018.”

He is expected to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday and a report will be submitted to public prosecutor, the Procurator Fiscal.

Footage of the incident showed Mr Trump being ushered inside his five-star hotel as the protested drifted towards him.

Images showed marksmen assigned to protect the president pointing their rifles at the powered parachute, which circled the hotel at about 10pm.

Greenpeace shared a video of the stunt in a tweet, which read: “Watch as @realDonaldTrump tries to hide from our message flying right over his head.”

The campaign group said it had alerted the police to the protest 10 to 15 minutes before it took place.

Greenpeace spokesman Ben Stewart said: “Theresa May should not have dignified Trump with a visit to the UK.

“The vast majority of British people are appalled by his words and deeds. He is, simply, the worst president ever. That’s why we flew over him with a message branding him well below par.”

Following the stunt, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams told BBC Scotland: “There are armed assets protecting the president – both from the US Secret Service and ourselves and the Met Police, who offer a close protection function as well.

“And there’s no doubt anybody who breaches security around him puts themselves in grave danger.

“On this occasion we could assess the situation and we realised there was no direct threat to the president however it’s absolutely something that is very serious.”

The president and his wife Melania have been staying at Turnberry this weekend during a private leg of their UK visit, which was marked by huge demonstrations involving thousands of people in London, Edinburgh and other cities.