Two women were sexually assaulted in the queue to see the Queen’s lying in state, a court has heard.
Adio Adeshine, 19, allegedly exposed himself and pushed into the mourners from behind as they waited in line at Victoria Tower Gardens on Wednesday evening.
He is said to have gone into the River Thames in an attempt to evade police officers, before coming out and being arrested.
Adeshine was remanded in custody on Friday after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
Outlining the allegations, prosecutor Alex Adowale, said: “The defendant was part of the queue to see the resting in state of Queen Elizabeth II.”
His alleged victims are said to have been among the thousands of people who have been lining the banks of the River Thames to view the Queen’s coffin.
The court heard the first complainant allegedly noticed Adeshine because she had not previously seen him, despite having waited in the queue with the same people for hours.
David Beckham in tears as he views Queen’s coffin after queueing for 13 hours
Queen dies: A queue for the queue – mourners waiting to see coffin now placed in holding pen
Queen’s grandchildren to hold vigil at her coffin – with Prince of Wales at the head and Duke of Sussex at the foot
She is said to have noticed him getting closer to her before feeling something touching her back, then turned to see he had exposed himself.
The woman later allegedly saw Adeshine acting in a similar way towards another woman, before security were alerted and police called.
He is said to have thrown his phone into the Thames before entering the water himself, but was arrested shortly after coming out of the river.
