Soham ban man arrested outside court

David Westgate was banned from contacting the families in August

A Plymouth man who was banned from contacting the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has been arrested outside the Old Bailey.

David Westgate was outside the main entrance to the court with brightly coloured laminated placards.

He had been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order in August, obtained by Cambridgeshire and Devon police.

Westgate had been banned from any contact with the families after he admitted writing to the grieving parents and bombarding them with phone calls with his theory about the girls' disappearance.

At the Old Bailey on Thursday, police moved Westgate on just as Ian Huntley's barrister, Stephen Coward QC, arrived.

Interim order

He was then arrested when police officers realised who he was.

Minutes earlier, the Wells and Chapman families had arrived at court for the day's proceedings.

They were driven into the complex just yards from where Westgate had set up his placards.

The order obtained by police had banned him from contacting anyone connected with the trial of Mr Huntley and Maxine Carr, by post, telephone or any other means.

Westgate was also ordered not to contact any officer - serving or retired - from Cambridgeshire Constabulary, except for a purpose unconnected with the murder case.

The order will run until 2 February, 2004.

Ian Huntley denies two charges of murder, while Maxine Carr has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and two counts of assisting an offender.

The trial continues.