Guard tells jury MP swore at him

Martyn Jones says the story has damaged his reputation

A House of Commons security guard has told London's High Court that a Labour MP repeatedly swore at him when he asked to see his pass.

Martyn Jones, MP for Clwyd South, is suing Associated Newspapers for damages for defamation after the Mail on Sunday reported the alleged incident in 2006.

Mr Jones claims the article was a "grotesque distortion of the truth".

Guard Christopher Ham, 21, backed the article's claims. The company denies defamation and the case continues.

On Monday, Mr Jones claimed the story, published under the headline "Labour MP in foul-mouthed outburst at police guard" and followed up the next week, contained "at least a dozen untrue assertions".

He admitted swearing, but denied telling the security guard to "f*** off".

We don't have to prove the literal truth of every single sentence within the article. We just have to prove the truthfulness of the sting Bernard Livesey QC, for Associated Newspapers

On Tuesday, Mr Ham, who had been working at the Palace of Westminster as a Metropolitan Police security officer for six months in May last year, gave his version of events.

He told the court: "On the day of the incident I had been on my post since six in the morning.

"I enjoy my work thoroughly and I never let my attention wander whilst I'm on duty. You are taught in training to always be vigilant and protect the building.

"There was a gentleman coming up the escalator who I now know to be Martyn Jones.

"I politely asked to see his pass. His first reaction was to tell me to 'f*** off' - he was an MP.

"I politely persisted. His second reaction was 'f*** off, you should know who I am. You don't have the right to question me, you're only security.'

"I persisted and followed him to the lift where he reluctantly showed me his name and I wrote it down."

Bernard Livesey QC, for Associated Newspapers, told the jury Mr Jones had behaved in an "abusive and bullying manner".

He said the "sting" of the Mail on Sunday article was that Mr Jones had displayed "serious misbehaviour".

He added: "We don't have to prove the literal truth of every single sentence within the article. We just have to prove the truthfulness of the sting."