A protester has appeared in court wearing a burqa to deny a charge of wearing the Islamic religious garment to conceal his identity during a Hampshire protest.

Timothy Miller, 76, of Sherwood Avenue in Hedge End, Southampton, was arrested in relation to the anti-migrant and anti-racism demonstrations in Portsmouth city centre on 12 September.

During the hearing at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, he lifted the veil while holding a black handbag as he confirmed his identity.

When asked how he pleaded, Miller replied: “As I am in every police camera, I am not guilty”.

The protest followed disorder on 6 September when police attended Eastney Marina as hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads to stop coaches carrying about 140 migrants, who had crossed the English Channel in a dinghy, from leaving the city.

District Judge Stephen Apted asked the defendant if he could remove his face covering, so that he could be identified. Miller lifted the veil of the burqa and confirmed his name, date of birth and address.

When asked how he pleaded to the charge of using the burka to conceal his identity within a designated area under section 158 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, Miller replied: “As I am in every police camera, I am not guilty.”

Miller was then asked what his legal defence to the charge was, he replied: “The issue quite simply is we should be all living under one law of which I think everybody is under agreement.”

He said that he had an “exemption” for “Islamic” religious observance and added “which I am entitled to, therefore it was an exemption for which I told the police”.

When asked to clarify that the religion was “Islam”, Miller responded: “I do not feel I should answer this question because nobody is asked this question when they come into the country.”

Mr Apted went on to ask Miller to clarify that he observed Islam as a religion, the defendant replied: “As such as I am studying Islam as it seems to be the most beneficial religion to be noticed in this climate today.”

He said that he continued to wear the burka to get a “greater understanding” from “this side of the veil” and added: “It’s part of my inquiring mind of changing from one religion to another”.

Miller told the court that he had lived in Morocco and travelled to Bahrain and Dubai and added: “What I say is happening here is the movement generally by law and everything that we are moving towards an Islamic society, therefore it is more beneficial to me to have a full understanding and belief, that’s what I am doing.

Mr Apted adjourned the case for a trial to be held at the same court on February 16.

He released Miller on unconditional bail until the trial.