YouTube Street ‘Auditor’ Attacked; Case Raises Questions About Online Provocation
MANCHESTER, England — Charlie Veitch, a YouTube personality known for his videos documenting life on the streets of UK towns and cities, found himself at the center of a court case this week after an altercation in a Manchester shopping mall.Bradley Webb, 31, was found guilty of common assault for attacking Veitch after labeling him a “paedophile.”
The incident, captured on Veitch’s camera, unfolded after Webb allegedly made the derogatory comment, referencing the 44-year-old Veitch’s relationship with his 23-year-old girlfriend, Laura Garside. According to court testimony, Webb lashed out, hurling shoes and a contactless bank card reader at Veitch. Webb’s partner, Robyn Laing, 28, also pulled Garside’s hair during the confrontation.
Veitch, a former banker born in Rio de Janeiro to a Brazilian father and Scottish mother, has amassed over 531,000 subscribers on YouTube with his videos, many of which feature walking tours of Manchester and other UK locations. These videos often depict interactions with rough sleepers, encounters with fans, and confrontations with locals, sparking debate about the ethics of filming vulnerable individuals for online content.
Some of Veitch’s video titles, such as “English City Enriched by Modernity, Knives and Tiktokers” (about Derby) and “Armed Police Destroyed, Pro Hamas Vigil & Rude Kid Gets Told Off” (from Leeds), have drawn criticism for their provocative nature. Another video from Southport references a murder case, with the title “‘Recovered As the Enrichment? Anti-English Propaganda Shocker.'” In it, Veitch tells viewers: “We need to learn from it, build on it, put safeguards in place so that it doesn’t happen again as much as we can…But I just don’t see that kind of leadership coming from the Government, I just don’t.”
The assault occurred on July 23, 2023, while Veitch and Garside were visiting the Trafford Center shopping mall. Veitch testified that he heard someone shout “paedophile” from behind and, upon turning around, confronted Webb about the remark. The situation escalated quickly, leading to the assault.Garside suffered a bruise above her eyebrow and the bridge of her nose and, according to court testimony, refused to leave her house for two weeks after the attack.
Webb and Laing, from Great Moor in Stockport, were convicted in their absence after failing to appear in court. A warrant has been issued for their arrest.The case highlights the growing trend of “audit” videos,where individuals film public spaces and interactions,often with the intention of testing authority or provoking reactions. These videos have become increasingly popular on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, raising legal and ethical questions about privacy, consent, and the potential for harassment.
While Veitch’s videos are protected speech under the First Amendment in the United States, analogous legal concepts in the UK are more restrictive. For example, “hate speech” laws in the United Kingdom prohibit inciting hatred based on protected characteristics such as religion, race, or sexual orientation, meaning that Veitch
