Ex-boxer Chris Eubank faces arrest after no-show at court

Ordering his arrest a judge said that Eubank had not had the courage to come to court to give his version.

Eubank was fined £500 and ordered to pay £380 costs in his absence for his role in the protest.

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District Judge Mike Snow at Westminster Magistrates Court found Eubank guilty of protesting about the Iraq war inside the Government's designated area.

The judge said: "Mr Eubank has not had the courage himself to come to court and give his version."

He gave Eubank just 14 days to pay the fine and legal costs.

The judge ruled that Eubank's actions in driving his tractor truck around the area with an "overtly political" message amounted to a "demonstration."

Eubank's sign, referred to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and read : "Mr Brown you must know your policy in Iraq cannot succeed democracy cannot be exported with a gun. You can be a great leader and peacemaker."

Eubank, 41, of Hove, East Sussex, had earlier denied carrying out a demonstration in a designated area without authority under the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act.

He had been bailed after being arrested on 22 May this year when protesting in his truck in Whitehall, at the junction with Downing Street.

Pc David Roddam told the court today that the incident took place at 2.29pm. He received information and went to the gates of Downing Street.

PC Roddam said that Eubank was standing at the rear of his vehicle being interviewed by a camera crew and was told that he was causing an obstruction.