An American expert in violent self-defense has accused the Mirror newspaper of publishing a misleading story, which led to former Home Secretary Theresa May signing an exclusion order that banned him from entering the UK.
Tim Larkin, who runs a company that trains military combat techniques to members of the public, was told by the UK Border Agency in 2012 that his "his presence here was not conducive to the public good".
According to Larkin’s website the style of self-defence he teaches is designed to leave attackers in “crippling pain”. He was due to give public talks in London and Birmingham in 2012, but was told he would not be allowed to enter the UK by the Home Office.
Speaking on HuffPost Live on Monday, Larkin said that he was asked if he was to speak in any cities affected by the rioting, to which he said “yes”. This was then turned into a story in the Mirror, which reported: "Larkin To Do A Riot Tour". This misrepresentation, he said, led May to sign the exclusion order.