Tenant tried to link landlord's partner to Westminster Bridge attack in housing dispute

12 May 2021, 19:37 | Updated: 12 May 2021, 20:51

Banyard did not attend a court hearing after being convicted of perverting the course of justice
Banyard did not attend a court hearing after being convicted of perverting the course of justice. Picture: Met Police

By Will Taylor

Police are hunting a man who tried to frame his landlord's partner as a terrorist involved in the Westminster Bridge attack because of a housing dispute.

Gerald Banyard, of Whalley, Lancashire, sent two handwritten notes to police days after the 2017 assault, falsely claiming another person had been involved.

That person, who was wholly innocent, was questioned by counter-terror detectives because of the fake allegations, and it was later established Banyard, 67, was behind the notes.

He was found guilty of two counts of perverting the court of justice at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday but failed to attend.

A warrant has now been issued for his arrest by a judge.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "In the immediate aftermath of the Westminster attack, our main priority was to establish whether the attacker might have plotted with others, and whether there was any outstanding threat.

Read more: No city deals with terrorist incidents as effectively as London: Defence expert

Another note sent to police
A note sent to police. Picture: Met Police

"This involved scores of officers working around the clock and pursuing various lines of inquiry in order to keep the public safe.

"Banyard looked to exploit an extremely tragic and serious situation to try and settle what was a private dispute with his landlord.

"His actions meant that counter-terrorism resources were diverted to investigate what turned out to be a completely fabricated story which implicated an innocent man.

"His actions were disgraceful and completely reckless."

The Westminster Bridge attack, in March 2017, saw Khalid Masood drive a car into pedestrians before crashing into railings outside the Palace of Westminster, where he then killed unarmed officer Keith Palmer.

Eight days later, Banyard sent a package to Brighton police station. It said it was sent from an American tourist called Kevin who found a suspicious note in his hotel room, addressed to "Khalid" and signed off with a name and phone number.

A second letter was sent in April 2017, from Leeds, which again claimed a man from Eastbourne had been communicating with Masood.

The accused man was questioned by detectives and it was confirmed he was completely innocent. He suggested Banyard as a possible suspect because he was in a tenant-landlord dispute with the man's partner, and a handwriting expert confirmed Banyard had written the notes to police.

Call police on 101 quoting MPS Operation Tates with information on Banyard's whereabouts.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Salman Amin has said it is harder to make the case for investing in Britain now

'Case for investment in Britain crumbling under Starmer', warns McVitie’s boss

Breaking
The Sea Story tourist boat has disappeared

More than a dozen people are missing after tourist vessel sinks in the Red Sea

Calin Georgescu

Shock as far-right, pro-Russia candidate wins first round of Romanian election

PETA has asked a Birmingham pub to change its "offensive" name.

Animal rights activists target beloved Birmingham pub over 'derogatory' name

Barbara Taylor Bradford who has died aged 91

Best-selling A Woman of Substance author Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

Mussie Imnetu

Charity worker denies murder of top chef killed following attack near Notting Hill Carnival

Davina McCall shares health update as she reveals 'short-term memory problems' following brain surgery

Davina McCall shares health update as she reveals 'short-term memory problems' following brain surgery

County Hall Maidstone, Kent.

Labour to abolish 'dozens' of councils in biggest reform for a generation

Gunman on the run after girl, 8, seriously injured after being 'caught in the crossfire' in double shooting

Gunman 'fired directly into car' leaving girl, 8, seriously injured in double shooting - as police hunt suspect

Exclusive
LBC’s Nick Ferrari has remembered being spiked while at a party.

‘The whole world was spinning’: Nick Ferrari candidly recalls drink spiking as he shares 'appalling' side-effects

Jess Phillips pledges £250k to curb drink spiking - as she hits out at Tory inaction over women's safety

Jess Phillips pledges £250k training budget to curb drink spiking - as she hits out at Tory inaction over women's safety

Dr Philip Nitschke enters a 'suicide pod' known as 'The Sarco'

Inventor of Sarco death pods say he will bring device to UK - despite first user being found with 'strangulation marks'

UK unveils AI cyber defence lab to combat Russian threats, as minister pledges unwavering support for Ukraine

British spies to ramp up fight against Russian cyber threats with launch of cutting-edge AI research unit

Donald Trump is suing CBS

Donald Trump planning to 'kick transgender troops out of US military' on return to White House

Coleen Rooney revealed details of her encounter with Donald Trump

Coleen Rooney reveals 'dirty' Donald Trump's bizarre request to Wayne as she tells of remark president made about her

Live
Flooding causes havoc in the UK.

LIVE: Storm Bert causes massive rail commuter chaos as 150 flood warnings remain in place