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Gilmour son loses sentence appeal

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's son has lost an appeal against his 16-month sentence for going on a drink and drug-fuelled rampage at a student fees protest.

History student Charlie Gilmour, 21, of Billingshurst, West Sussex, who admitted violent disorder after joining thousands demonstrating in London's Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square last year, had his challenge rejected by Court of Appeal judges.

Lord Justice Hughes, announcing the decision in London, said the court was unable to say that his sentence was "arguably either manifestly excessive or wrong in principle".

The Cambridge University history student, who was sentenced in July, was seen hanging from a Union flag on the Cenotaph and leaping on to the bonnet of a Jaguar car that formed part of a royal convoy.

Gilmour was found by a judge at Kingston Crown Court, south west London, to have thrown a rubbish bin at the vehicle.

He also kicked at the window of Topshop's flagship store on Oxford Street and ended up in possession of the leg of a mannequin.

The judge at Kingston accepted that the antics at the Cenotaph did not form part of the violent disorder, but described it as "outrageous and deeply offensive behaviour".

During a recent hearing, his barrister told the judges that Gilmour was intoxicated and did not realise he was swinging from the Cenotaph.

The Crown Court heard that he had turned to drink and drugs after being rejected by his biological father, writer Heathcote Williams, and had taken LSD and Valium in the hours leading up to the violence.

Appeal judges heard that he had "successfully reformed and rehabilitated himself" and, in particular, had addressed the "underlying drug and alcohol problems".

Source: music.uk.msn.com
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