View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
July 9, 2019updated 30 Sep 2022 8:02am

Agency photographer ‘assaulted and spat at’ by drug-driver outside inquest

By Charlotte Tobitt

A convicted drug-driver allegedly assaulted a press photographer as he arrived at an inquest yesterday.

INS photographer Vagner Vidal told police the man grabbed his camera lens, spat at him and gave him the middle finger outside Reading Coroners’ Court, which is in the Town Hall.

Thames Valley Police is investigating the incident.

The alleged assailant, aged 18, was a witness at an inquest into the deaths of two men he hit and killed after smoking cannabis in August last year. He was convicted of drug-driving earlier this year and given a community service order.

Vidal, who has worked for INS for almost nine years, told Press Gazette the man became aggressive towards him as he was capturing his arrival to give evidence.

“I started to photograph him as he got to the inquest centre in Reading and as he got closer to the entrance and the door he put his arm towards the lens,” Vidal said.

“I thought he would just cover it but he grabbed the lens and he tried to pull it out of my hand.

Content from our partners
AI challenge asks journalists to pitch for help to solve industry challenges
Newsrooms 2.0: Why WordPress is taking over the industry
Handelsblatt's key strategy for unifying print and digital operations

“I didn’t let go. I said ‘look, don’t do that, this is assault, you shouldn’t be doing that’ and we started having an argument.

“He said ‘do you know why I’m here? Have some respect,” and gave Vidal the finger, which the photographer captured on camera.

Vidal continued: “He was quite aggressive. He was covering his face as I was trying to get a picture of him.

“He spat at me, towards me on the floor, and then walked in inside the court. It was all very brief.”

A BBC camera crew at the scene captured the incident and shared the footage with Vidal, he added.

“I have to admit I felt pretty angry… When you go to court this kind of stuff can happen but you never expect them to turn a bit violent or try to grab the camera from you.”

Vidal nonetheless managed to get some usable images of the man who attacked him following the inquest, telling Press Gazette the incident only made him more determined to do so.

Asked if anything similar had ever happened to him before, Vidal said: “Many many years ago it did happen but it wasn’t in court, it was a doorknock. It was my first job for INS.

“I’ve never really had a problem since. You get intimidating characters but never actually physically trying to grab my camera.

“I really don’t want this to create a precedent so people think they can do this to working photographers. It’s hard enough as it is.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police confirmed the force had received a report of an assault which took place between 9.30am and 10am yesterday outside Reading Town Hall.

“A man in his thirties was assaulted by another man,” a statement said.

“The victim did not sustain any injuries. An investigation has been launched into the circumstances.

“Anyone with information should call 101 quoting reference 543 8/7/19.”

Picture: Google Street View

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network