A man has denied any wrongdoing after allegedly assaulting a British Transport Police officer in a row over wearing a face mask.
Anthony Baldwin appeared in court today in connection with an incident at Liverpool Central Station during which a police officer was allegedly assaulted.
The altercation arose from a confrontation in the city centre when the 34-year-old was challenged by British Transport Police (BTP) officers for not wearing a face mask on public transport, as is required due to coronavirus laws.
But the Ellesmere Port man allegedly objected to a BTP officer's intervention, on the Liverpool Central to Lime Street service, and objected to being removed from the train, at 3.20pm, on September 2.
BTP said it had responded to a complaint about a man coughing at two passengers.
Today, at Liverpool Magistrates Court, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police constable, acting in exercise of his function.
The Cheshire man also denied a second count of public order.
Baldwin's lawyer, Scott McCrimmon, is set to argue his client was exempt from wearing a face mask because he suffers a medical condition, namely severe anxiety, which can leave him short of breath and prone to panic attacks.
The police constable was left with some bleeding and bruising, it was heard, when Baldwin was ejected from the train.
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He will stand trial before magistrates in Bootle in July.
Baldwin, of Hawthorn Road, was released on conditional bail.
He is only allowed to travel on Merseyrail to go to and from work, a measure which was slightly eased as it previously issued a ban from him using the network for any reason.
The train, at Central Station, was on its way to Lime Street.
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Last summer, the government introduced new coronavirus rules, stating that any passengers on public transport must wear a mask or face a £100 fine.
There were exemptions for people with underlying health conditions, disabilities and for children.
