An anti-vaccine protester who accused Matt Hancock of murdering people during the coronavirus pandemic has been found guilty at trial of harassment at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Geza Tarjanyi, 62, of Leyland, shoulder-barged the former health secretary and “shouted ridiculous conspiracy theories” on two separate occasions on January 19 and 24.

Senior district judge Paul Goldspring said Tarjanyi “deliberately intimidated and harassed” the MP, and ordered him not to approach or contact the MP for three years.

He was also given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for two years and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £930 plus a surcharge of £128.

On the first occasion, close to Parliament, Mr Hancock was “accosted” by Tarjanyi, who made physical contact, aggressively questioned him and verbally abused him.

Nutan Fatania, prosecuting, said Mr Hancock passed an anti-vaccination protest before Tarjanyi filmed him, asked him why he had “killed so many people” and shoulder-barged him.

A few days later Tarjanyi followed Mr Hancock through Westminster underground station and onto a train where he again accused the MP of murdering people, it was alleged.

Ms Fatania said: “Mr Hancock felt shaken up by both incidents and concerned for his personal safety.”

Mr Hancock, giving evidence, said: “I had a pretty good impression he had been taken over by these ridiculous conspiracy theories.”

Parveen Mansoor, defending, said Tarjanyi denied any physical contact and believed it was Mr Hancock who “barged into him”.

Today, he has been found guilty of harassment.

Mr Hancock, 44, was health secretary when the coronavirus pandemic struck and was a key figure in the lockdown restrictions and vaccine rollout that followed.

He resigned after leaked CCTV images showed him kissing an adviser in his office, in breach of his own social distancing guidance.

Mr Hancock later angered colleagues and constituents by flying to the Australian jungle to appear on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in November 2022.

Having been stripped of the Conservative whip over the appearance, he said he will not contest his seat at the next election when he will step down.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Hancock said: “I felt directly targeted.

“I feel less comfortable using public transport now.

“My security is under review.”

Reacting to the news, Mr Hancock said: “I am relieved at this guilty verdict. This individual didn’t just attack me, but he’s attacked several MPs and other public servants.

“We in the UK pride ourselves as a global symbol of democracy, built around respectful debate to build a more inclusive and harmonious society. Violence against anyone for their political beliefs is unacceptable.

“I would like to thank the CPS, Transport for London and the British Transport Police who have been fantastic throughout.”