An IT worker who sparked a massive security alert when he crashed his car into the gates of Downing Street has admitted dangerous driving.
Seth Kneller, from Crewe, was behind the wheel of a silver Kia which swerved across Whitehall and into the gates protecting the Prime Minister’s official residence.
Armed police surrounded the stricken car and arrested Kneller, 43, and then found indecent images of children on his Samsung phone within the vehicle.
In a video posted to TikTok shortly before the crash, on May 25, Kneller told his followers: “Somebody has to pay.”
He said in the clip: “I want to say that I’m sorry. To my friends, to my family to people who tried to give me a chance.
“But unfortunately, everything is just so messed up now. I can’t deal with these ups and downs, I can’t deal with one minute being a great person who’s done great things and the next minute my anger and frustration mostly towards myself.
“But I feel is the responsibility of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and those who have gone before him and ruining our country and somebody has to pay.
“We have to make a statement. And that’s what’s gonna happen.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street at the time of the crash. The Metropolitan Police swiftly said it was not a terror-related incident, and no one was injured.
Kneller, who has worked in IT support, has autism, ADHD, and diabetes, Southwark crown court heard on Tuesday.
In the crash, he caused the front set of gates to Downing Street to swing open, but the car was stopped by a second set of barriers.
He has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, and separately admitted two charges of making indecent images of children over eight pictures found on his phone.
Kneller was due to be sentenced over the indecent images today, but Judge Christopher Hehir delayed the hearing until September 25. The court may then sentence him for the dangerous driving as well.
The court was told he has admitted “having an attraction” to children, and he says he sought help in 2015.
Kneller, supported in court by members of his family, was remanded back into custody.
