Murdoch custard pie attacker is from Windsor

Johnnie Marbles, aka  Jonathan May-Bowles, the man who threw a custard pie at Rupert Murdoch yesterday is an experienced political campaigner from Windsor.

The 26-year-old father of one was brought up in a £350,000 house  within walking distance of Windsor Castle.  "Mr Marbles" real name Jonathan May-Bowles, is the son of a retired company director. His sister Helen is a climate change campaigner.

A contemporary from Mr May-Bowles's university days, who would not be named, said: "He was very left-wing and interested in all sorts of issues, but he was slightly frustrated being at Royal Holloway because it is middle class and quite a Conservative campus and he struggled to find people with similar views."

Rupert Murdoch was attacked with the custard pie while giving evidence yesterday to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee over the News of the World phone hacking scandal.

Mr May-Bowles has been charged with an offence under Section 5 of the Public Order Act (behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress in a public place).

Just before he launched the custard pie, he announced via Twitter: "It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever don before #splat."

Mr May-Bowles will appear in court next week.