A SINGER from Hampshire arrested at an anti-lockdown protest has been cleared of breaching coronavirus regulations. 

Whiteley-based Joseph Ward, known as Joe, was arrested at an anti-lockdown march in Bournemouth town centre on November 21 in 2020.

The 30-year-old, who is part of the band The Jays, was at the march with his friend Michael James John Stride, 41, when they were both accused of committing an offence, arrested and taken into custody by police.  

At the time the country was in lockdown and gatherings of more than two people in public were banned.

But now nearly two years after being arrested he has been cleared by a judge.

Speaking after the case, Ward said: “This makes me feel great with a not guilty verdict.

"Throughout the pandemic, this was a very split issue through society. 

"I try to not push my views onto people, but it felt like, whether I said this is my opinion, you are forced to take a side on this issue.

"People were constantly saying to me 'you're wrong, trust the science, trust the media, trust the Government', so standing on the other side after being told, 'no, these regulations don't stand up in a court of law' makes me feel justified being out there and protesting and letting people know it's OK, it feels great.”  

Stride, of Rodwell Avenue, Weymouth, and Ward, of Anderson Close, Whiteley, both denied taking part in a gathering of more than two people in a public outdoor place in Exeter Crescent, Bournemouth.

They entered the pleas in September last year and went on trial unrepresented at Poole Magistrates' Court on Monday. They were both found not guilty by deputy district judge Jodie Mittell.

The judge ordered that both defendants' costs were to be paid from central funds.

Mr Ward said: “We were arrested under regulation nine and 10 of the Coronavirus Act. 10 is organisation of a protest and nine is participation of a protest.  

“We were arrested in Bournemouth where the protest march was. We were going around the town centre, where I was arrested with Michael Stride.   

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"We have had six different hearings because the laws were constantly changing at that time.

"(At court I) argued that I was targeted by the police for the reason being that they thought I was an organiser.  

“They didn't arrest anybody during the protest. They had waited 45 minutes until after the protest to track me and the other guy who they thought was the organiser to arrest us."

He added: "What's unique about this case is we're the first people to get off of these regulations completely self-represented.”