A MAN tried for defying police orders to leave the plinth of Winston Churchill’s statue on Parliament Square after protesting there for over 48 hours was acquitted in court yesterday.

Danny “Plinthman” Freeman was arrested last October after staging his protest against ongoing police brutality in the square.

He was acquitted of all charges, including that of performing a sex act on Mr Churchill’s statue, at a hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court.

Mr Freeman told the Star he was “relieved” and that he was fortunate to be acquitted “despite the clear disregard for promises our government recognises within the universal declaration of human rights.”

During the trial a police officer admitted he “had followed Freeman around” as part of “intelligence gathering” duties.