Trenton Oldfield bailed in UK but banned from Olympic torch route

THE Australian who disrupted the Oxford-Cambridge boat race has been given strict bail conditions.

Trenton Oldfield, 35, caused the race on 7 April to be stopped for half an hour by swimming in front of the rowing crews on the Thames.

His actions raised security concerns ahead of this year’s Olympics and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The London-based anti-elitism protester entered no plea during an appearance at Feltham Magistrates Court on Monday. He is charged with causing a public nuisance.

Chief Magistrate Alison Stone released Oldfield on bail and set his next hearing for 23 May at Isleworth Crown Court.

Prosecutor Edmund Hall asked for specific bail conditions to prevent Oldfield from causing further disruption.

He told the court about a website in which the accused “sets out a manifesto for civil disobedience and sets out to encourage others to do so”.

Under his bail conditions, Oldfield is not allowed to enter the city of Westminster on 9 May – the day of the opening of the British Parliament.

He is also not allowed to enter the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead because of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.

Oldfield is not allowed within 100m of any road used for the passage of the Olympic torch.

He arrived in court on Monday in a dark crumpled suit and appeared nervous.

He gave his name, address and date of birth before entering no plea.

Oldfield grew up in Sydney and attended a private school, Shore, before moving to the UK to attend the London School of Economics.

There was confusion in court about where he lived because he had given the address of an apartment which he was renting out.

Neither Oldfield nor his lawyer spoke to the media throng outside the courts on a cold, wet day on the outskirts of London. - AAP