Police surround Jonathan Elliott near Prince Charles's car ahead of the enthronement. Picture: Joel Tennant.

by Gerry Warren

An anti-cuts protester has today branded the royal family "parasites" after admitting lunging at a car carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in Canterbury.

Jonathan Elliott, of Sydney Road, Whitstable, pleaded guilty to causing a breach of the peace this morning after charging at the royal Rolls Royce - believing it contained Prime Minister David Cameron.

Canterbury magistrates ordered the 47-year-old be bound over - an order to keep the peace - for a year.

Jobless Elliott, who asked to be called Dude when he was in the dock, wore a red t-shirt bearing the words: "I'm afraid and therefore unquestioningly obedient".

The royals were arriving in the city for the enthronment of the new Archbishop at Canterbury Cathedral when Elliott charged at the vehicle in Northgate at about 2.20pm.

Elliott (pictured right) was arrested at the scene and spent the night in custody before appearing in court this morning.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said there had been a police presence at the Kings School rear entrance to the cathedral.

A police officer saw Elliott handing out leaflets waiting for the Prime Minister to arrive for the ceremony.

Ms Farbrace said officers saw him make a clear run at a vehicle and he was detained "as it was believed he posed a threat to himself and others".

After the hearing, Elliott described David Cameron and the royal family as "parasites".

He said: "I was on the path and then found myself in the road with a load of policemen on top of me.

"I assumed Cameron was in the car, but a police constable moved me out the way and searched me and I was getting pretty agitated.

"i didn't know prince charles was in the car and had no intention of hurting anyone - i'm not a violent person..." – protester jonathan elliott

"It all happened so fast. I didn't know Prince Charles was in the car and had no intention of hurting anyone - I'm not a violent person.

"I was angry at David Cameron, but I saw the Royal Family as second best.

"All I wanted to do was put a leaflet on the car. They should be aware that it's affecting us.

"People at the bottom are being hard hit and they are disconnected.

"Basically they are all parasites and call people like me skivers."

Elliott said he felt "agitated" after being searched by police as he handed out leaflets, adding: "That kind of peed me off."