Charlie Gilmour, son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, is now at his home in West Sussex after his release from prison. He served four months of a 16-month sentence.
The former Cambridge University student, who has had to suspend his studies, was handed the sentence in July after a court hearing in which he admitted the charge of violent disorder.
The charge was brought against him after he was photographed swinging from a Union Jack on the cenotaph during last year’s student protests.
The judge at Kingston-Upon-Thames crown court accepted in July that the incident did not form part of the violent disorder, but said that it was “outrageous and deeply offensive”.
At the recent appeal hearing that has lead to Mr Gilmour’s release, his barrister told the court that his client was intoxicated at the time of the incident, and did not fully realise what he was doing.
Mr Gilmour’s release comes at a time when the courts are being criticised for handing out what some perceive to be overly harsh sentences to those involved in protests, including the notable case of Zenon Kotsakis, a Sussex student.
Will Lawn, a third-year Cambridge student who has met Mr Gilmour on several occasions, commented: “It was ridiculous that Charlie Gilmour was sentenced to 16 months in prison in the first place.
“He was made a scape-goat simply because of his famous father. I am glad that he has been released after only four months. But this experience may well haunt him for the rest of his life, in his public image and more importantly, his education”.
It is not yet clear whether Charlie Gilmour will return to his studies, but Cambridge University have clearly stated that if he does, it will not be until the next academic year.
Mr Gilmour is currently under the restriction of the Home Detention Curfew, a system which monitors people through the use of an electronic tag.
