“Yellow vest” protester James Goddard has denied assaulting a photographer at a demonstration in Manchester last month.

The 29-year-old, of Timperley, Altrincham, who was representing himself at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, said his arrest had been a “political decision” and there was “no case to answer”.

He pleaded not guilty to the common assault of Joel Goodman and also denied a public order offence of using threatening or abusive language at the protest in Piccadilly Gardens on 9 February.

He was not arrested on the day of the protest but at a later date.

Before the hearing started he asked court staff to eject members of the media to accommodate his “family and friends” who wanted to sit in the public gallery.

He said: “I want my family and friends in and I want the press out… I don’t want scumbag journalists in here.”

A uniformed police officer told Goddard there were only five seats available for his supporters, and the hearing eventually got under way with 10 reporters in court.

Asked for his nationality, Goddard replied: “English.”

Prosecutor Laura Keegan told the court the Crown would rely on the evidence of the complainant and two clips from his bodycam footage which lasted a total of two-and-a-half minutes.

Goddard said he wished to challenge a part of his existing bail conditions which prevent him from entering Manchester city centre except to see a solicitor by prior written appointment.

He said it meant he was unable to find work and that he was being “treated worse than a rapist or a terrorist”.

He told the judge: “I want to contribute to society instead of being demonised by the state.”

District Judge John Temperley agreed to amend the restriction to prohibiting Goddard from attending any organised demonstration in Manchester city centre.

The judge told him he would go on trial on 25 June over the alleged incident.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Goddard also mistook a Daily Mail reporter for a BBC News correspondent who he labelled “far leftist” and asked for him to be removed from the courtroom.

At the end the hearing the defendant left the courtroom, but returned to shake the hand of the tabloid journalist and apologised for mistaking his identity.

“Yellow vest” protests – mirroring those taking place in France – began in the UK in December.

Demonstrators have heckled journalists and pro-Remain protesters in Westminster, with small protests taking place in other British towns.

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