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2 August 2011
Last updated at 10:54 ET
A man who threw a plate of shaving foam at News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch has been jailed for six weeks.
Jonathan May-Bowles, 26, of Edinburgh Gardens, Windsor, Berkshire, admitted attacking the media tycoon during a Commons committee hearing on phone hacking last month.
May-Bowles, who calls himself Jonnie Marbles, admitted assault and causing harassment, alarm or distress.
The stand-up comic was sentenced at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.
May-Bowles was ordered to serve three weeks in prison and pay a £15 victim surcharge and £250 costs.
Mr Murdoch and his son James were giving evidence before MPs at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 20 July when May-Bowles rushed forward from the public gallery with a paper plate filled with foam.
The foam hit the 80-year-old's jacket.
Mr Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, jumped to her husband's defence and appeared to slap May-Bowles on the head as several people tackled the attacker.
Sentencing May-Bowles, district judge Daphne Wickham said the aim of the attack was to disrupt proceedings, which were of "of huge importance".
Mr Murdoch would also have experienced a fear of injury as he did not know what was in the pie, she added.
"This is a parliamentary process, which - as you know - conducts itself with dignity and in a civilised fashion," said the judge.
"Everybody else in the room expected that, with one exception - you.
"You attended those proceedings with only one intention, to disrupt them."
Last week, after admitting the offences, May-Bowles said it had been "the most humble day of my life", mimicking a statement by Mr Murdoch.
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Jonathan May-Bowles, 26, of Edinburgh Gardens, Windsor, Berkshire, admitted attacking the media tycoon during a Commons committee hearing on phone hacking last month.
May-Bowles, who calls himself Jonnie Marbles, admitted assault and causing harassment, alarm or distress.
The stand-up comic was sentenced at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.
May-Bowles was ordered to serve three weeks in prison and pay a £15 victim surcharge and £250 costs.
Mr Murdoch and his son James were giving evidence before MPs at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 20 July when May-Bowles rushed forward from the public gallery with a paper plate filled with foam.
The foam hit the 80-year-old's jacket.
Mr Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, jumped to her husband's defence and appeared to slap May-Bowles on the head as several people tackled the attacker.
Sentencing May-Bowles, district judge Daphne Wickham said the aim of the attack was to disrupt proceedings, which were of "of huge importance".
Mr Murdoch would also have experienced a fear of injury as he did not know what was in the pie, she added.
"This is a parliamentary process, which - as you know - conducts itself with dignity and in a civilised fashion," said the judge.
"Everybody else in the room expected that, with one exception - you.
"You attended those proceedings with only one intention, to disrupt them."
Last week, after admitting the offences, May-Bowles said it had been "the most humble day of my life", mimicking a statement by Mr Murdoch.
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