Man Jailed for Kensington Palace Intrusions After Bizarre Courtroom Admission
A man who twice gained unauthorised access to the grounds of Kensington Palace in the days leading up to Christmas has been sentenced to 32 weeks in prison. Derek Egan, 39, from Hillingdon, pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass on a protected site at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
'Because I Am a Criminal' - The Defendant's Unusual Explanation
When asked by Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram why he had entered the royal premises, Egan offered a perplexing response: "because I am a criminal." The judge, seeking clarification, inquired about Egan's wellbeing and whether there were underlying issues in his life, to which Egan simply replied, "All is fine."
The court heard that at approximately 4am on December 22nd, Egan had scaled a fence to enter the gardens of Kensington Palace, which occasionally serves as a residence for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. After being taken to a police station and granted bail with conditions prohibiting his return, Egan astonishingly went back to the palace just one day later.
Consecutive Sentences for Repeated Offences
Judge Ikram handed down 16-week prison terms for each trespass offence, ordering them to be served consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 32 weeks. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offences, particularly noting that the second intrusion was more severe as Egan had deliberately ignored police instructions not to return.
"You were found in the garden at Kensington Palace having climbed over the fence," Judge Ikram stated. "The police bailed you, granted you bail but you went back. You did it again. You were arrested and brought before this court. You gave no explanation as to why you did it but climbed over a fence."
Legal Context and Royal Security Measures
Trespassing on protected sites designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) 2005 constitutes a criminal offence. This case emerges amid heightened security concerns for royal residences, with a new exclusion zone recently implemented around the Wales family's new home at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The royal family maintains multiple properties, including the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, though Kensington Palace remains one of their most prominent London residences. Egan, who chose to represent himself in court, displayed a concerning nonchalance about the proceedings, telling the judge, "I suppose I am happy as a criminal to follow whatever judgment (of) yourself and your court today."
This incident highlights ongoing security challenges at high-profile royal locations and raises questions about motivation behind such brazen intrusions, particularly given the defendant's unusual courtroom statements.
