AN ex-soldier with a big and brightly coloured bow tie has appeared in court - accused of impersonating a lollipop lady on Remembrance Day.

Stephen Gwylim Evans who wore a beret bearing the cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals and an oversized yellow and red polka dot bow tie denied a public order offence alleged to have been committed against a Malvern 'lollipop lady' and breaching Covid rules when he appeared before Worcester magistrates on Thursday.

The 57-year-old of Edith Berry Court, Malvern pleaded not guilty to using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause Trudy Macey harassment, alarm or distress on November 11 last year (section 4A public order offence). The defendant also spelled out his name when asked to confirm it in court, telling the bench that he knew 'Gwylim' was spelt incorrectly but that was how it appeared on his birth certificate.

He further denied being outside his address without a reasonable excuse contrary to the Coronavirus Restrictions, an alleged offence also said to have been committed on November 11.

During the hearings Evans asked if he could wear his beret, telling magistrates: "I'm an ex-solider."

However, they told him that defendants were not permitted to wear hats in court and so he put it away.

Mark Hambling, prosecuting, said: "The brief circumstances are that Mr Evans approached Trudy Macey, a lollipop lady. The allegation is that he takes the 'lollipop' when Mrs Macey has not got possession of it for a brief moment in time. He then undertakes the duties of Mrs Macey. Mrs Macey remonstrates and states he's not insured to stand in the middle of the road."

It is then alleged Evans became abusive and said 'call the police then'. "He states he's just doing her a favour and looking after 'my children in my country'" said the prosecutor, providing an overview of the case.

Richard Hull, defending, said Evans accepted he was there but maintained he was not abusive.

The trial was listed for May 17 and is expected to take three hours. Evans was granted unconditional bail in the meantime.