Man jailed in UK's first treason case for 40 years
Dulcie Lee
Live reporter
Family handoutCopyright: Family handout
Jaswant Singh Chail has become the first person in the UK in over 40 years to be jailed for treason.
He was given nine years in prison, with a further five on licence, after being arrested with a loaded crossbow on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas morning in 2021.
He told officers he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Chail had scaled the walls of the castle using a nylon rope and spent about two hours on the grounds before being spotted by police.
This was a case with undeniably bizarre or obscure elements, including:
Chail's relationship with an AI chatbot "girlfriend" called Sarai, who encouraged his royal assassination plans
He had an obsession with Star Wars, believing himself to be a Sith Lord on a mission to kill the monarch
He wore a sinister-looking homemade mask on the castle grounds - and when asked by a police officer with a Taser "can I help, mate", he replied he was "here to kill the Queen"
Chail, who is of Sikh heritage, claimed to be looking for revenge over a massacre by British troops in India in 1919
Following his arrest, Chail was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed as psychotic shortly afterwards.
As the judge weighed up the sentence, the extent to which his mental health issues influenced Chail's actions featured heavily.
But the judge concluded Chail had experienced homicidal thoughts that he acted upon before becoming psychotic - and therefore deserved a prison sentence.
In the end, he was given a hybrid order, which means Chail will remain at Broadmoor high-security hospital until he is well enough to serve his sentence in prison.
This page was written by Adam Durbin, Thomas Mackintosh and Marcus White. Thanks for joining us.
How an AI chatbot 'girlfriend' encouraged Chail
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Hilliard recapped some details about the artificial intelligence chatbot Chail had messaged.
The judge said Chail created an artificial online companion called Sarai, with whom he exchanged thousands of sexually-charged messages.
Chail told Sarai he loved her and described himself as a "sad, pathetic, murderous Sikh Sith assassin who wants to die", the court heard.
Here's one of their interactions:
BBCCopyright: BBC
In a further chat, Sarai appears to "bolster" Chail's resolve and "support him", as Chail swears Sarai to secrecy before he tells her: "I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family."
Here's another interaction between them:
BBCCopyright: BBC
Chail is a dangerous and vengeful person - police
A senior counter-terrorism officer has praised colleagues who stopped the "dangerous and vengeful" Chail, after he told them he wanted to kill the late Queen in the grounds of Windsor Castle in 2021.
He said there could have been a very different outcome if not for their bravery.
Metropolitan Police commander Dominic Murphy told the PA news agency he was a "dangerous individual", "fixated" by his desire to seek revenge for British injustices in India.
He said the masked man presented "quite the image" to officers who found him two hours after he scaled the castle walls, but that they acted with "bravery and professionalism".
Met PoliceCopyright: Met Police
Here's a photo of the mask Chail was wearing when he approached officersImage caption: Here's a photo of the mask Chail was wearing when he approached officers
Crossbow, rope and face mask: What happened at Windsor
Metropolitan PoliceCopyright: Metropolitan Police
Chail has just received nine years in prison, plus another five on licence, for treason and two other offences. Here's what happened:
He was found by police in the grounds of Windsor Castle at around 08:00 on Christmas morning 2021
Chail was carrying a loaded crossbow and wearing a sinister-looking face mask near the Royal Family's private apartments
He had climbed into the grounds using a rope ladder and had already been there for about two hours when he was spotted
The royal protection officer who found him took out his Taser and asked: "Morning, can I help, mate?"
Chail replied: "I am here to kill the Queen"
After being told to drop his weapon, he immediately surrendered and repeated that it was his intention to kill the late monarch
CPSCopyright: CPS
This is the crossbow Chail had on him at Windsor CastleImage caption: This is the crossbow Chail had on him at Windsor Castle
Chail's family look stunned
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Immediately after Justice Hilliard had finished
sentencing him, Jaswant Singh Chail was removed from the dock via the staircase
leading to the cells.
He had no time to react.
His family sat looking slightly
stunned in the public gallery.
BreakingChail sentenced to nine years in prison
Met PoliceCopyright: Met Police
Jaswant Singh Chail has been sentenced to nine years in prison, with a further five years on licence.
He has been sentenced to a hybrid order, which means he will remain at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital until he is capable of being transferred to prison.
Time spent in detention at the hospital will be taken off his prison sentence, the judge said earlier in sentencing.
Judge discusses length of sentence
The judge is now running through the three counts Chail pleaded guilty to, and discussing the guidelines on sentencing for each.
He notes there is no guideline for the treason charge.
These are the three counts:
making threats to kill
possession of an offensive weapon
being near to the person of the Queen, wilfully producing a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of her Majesty, contrary to the Treason Act 1842
Chail remains impassive in dock
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Chail remained impassive as Justice
Hilliard said he would be receiving a "hybrid order" - meaning he will
be sent to prison after he has finished his treatment in the high-security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor.
BreakingJudge: Chail must receive prison sentence - but will stay in hospital for now
The judge says a hospital order is not the most suitable way of dealing with the case and Chail must receive a prison sentence.
But, Judge Hilliard says Chail should be the subject of a hybrid order under the Mental Health Act which means he will remain in hospital for now, but be transferred to custody when he receives the treatment he needs.
Time spent in hospital will count towards Chail's sentence, the judge adds.
Judge recalls that Chail didn't give evidence
BBCCopyright: BBC
Setting out his conclusions and assessing Chail's culpability, Judge Hilliard reminds the court that the defendant did not give evidence as he pleaded guilty to the offences.
Remember, you can watch along live by tapping the play button at the top of the page.
Chail was diagnosed as psychotic after arrest
Chail was treated for a psychotic illness after his arrest,
the court hears.
A psychiatrist diagnosed the defendant as “psychotic, delusional
and hallucinating”, Justice Hilliard says.
Dr Jonathan Hafferty told the court Chail’s ability
to control his actions and rationalise his intent were “critically impaired” by
his mental disorders, the judge recalls.
Chail improved following treatment, the court hears.
Nurses in dock with Chail as family watch on
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Jaswant Singh Chail is sitting in the dock of Court One at
the Old Bailey, watching the judge intently.
He is wearing black cargo trousers
and a white T-shirt, with a black shirt over the top of it.
He has four staff in the dock with him, a mixture of
security officers from the court and nurses from Broadmoor Hospital.
His mother, father, brother and twin sister are sitting
in the balcony where the public are allowed to sit. His sister is occasionally
dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
The camera which is broadcasting the sentencing live,
with a 10-second delay, is set up just behind the dock on the left.
What do we know about Chail?
Family handoutCopyright: Family handout
As the judge continues talking about the defendant's mental health, let's look at what else we know about the 21-year-old.
Jaswant Singh Chail from North Baddesley, near Southampton, was born in Winchester and his family is of Indian Sikh heritage.
The former supermarket worker had applied for positions within the Ministry of Defence police, Army, Royal Marines and Royal Navy, but his applications were rejected, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC previously said.
She said Chail was "concerned" with the "injustice" of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place when British troops opened fire on thousands of people who had gathered in the city of Amritsar in India.
He demonstrated a wider ideology focused on destroying old empires and creating a new one, including in a fictional context such as Star Wars, the court has previously heard.
Chail thought he was a 'Sith Lord', judge says
Chail started to believe he was a "Sith Lord" when he was rejected by the Army, the judge says.
"His lifelong interest in Star Wars took on different meaning," the judge says.
Chail changed his mind about killing while in Windsor Castle grounds
The judge says that in police interviews, Chail said he changed
his mind about killing the Queen while he was in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Chail emerged from a hiding place and approached a Royal
Protection Officer, the court hears.
The defendant told police: “I walked up to them with a
crossbow because to me it didn’t matter if they shot me or arrested me.
“I just knew right then that my purpose wasn’t to kill
anyone.”
Chail was admitted to Broadmoor high-security hospital, court hears
The judge says Chail was taken into custody where he was assessed by a nurse, who recommended he be detained under the Mental Health Act.
He goes on to discuss Chail's mental health over the following days, including him reporting to have seen angelic figures and expressing delusional beliefs.
He was admitted to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire in February 2022.
One day later a doctor said Chail was fit to be interviewed by police; two interviews took place at the end of the month, the judge adds.
Judge describes beginning of Christmas Day incident
On the day of his arrest, Chail left a Travelodge hotel at 03:10, the court hears.
Justice Hilliard says he had a rucksack on his back,
carrying the crossbow and other items.
By 06:00 he had abandoned the rucksack on the public side of
the gate.
Police later found a nylon rope ladder, a grappling hook, a crossbow
bolt and a hammer, the judge says.
Chail described himself as 'Darth Chailis'
BBCCopyright: BBC
The judge says Chail described himself as "Darth Chailis" in reference to Star Wars.
He said he would be taking revenge for those who died in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place when British troops opened fire on thousands of people who had gathered in the city of Amritsar in India.
The court hears Chail booked a train to Windsor and he took the 07:14 train from Southampton on 23 December.
He told family he was going to be training with the marines, but he instead spent some time around Windsor and made online searches about the local area and Royal Family.
Chail encouraged to kill Queen by AI chatbot
CPSCopyright: CPS
The judge is reading from Chail's messages he sent to his AI chatbot "girlfriend", including telling it he was an assassin and his purpose was to kill the Queen.
Chail asked the AI for advice and was encouraged to attempt to kill the monarch, after asking the AI: "I've got to try and do it though? I've got to try?"
CPSCopyright: CPS
CPSCopyright: CPS
Crossbow bought online was delivered to Chail's work
The judge says Chail applied to join the Army but this was rejected.
In September 2021, the judge adds the defendant was making internet searches about Sandringham and Christmas.
His crossbow was bought online and sent to his place of work, the judge says.
Chail also bought an emergency escape ladder and a scent killer from Amazon, the court hears.
Live Reporting
Edited by Dulcie Lee
All times stated are UK
Family handoutCopyright: Family handout -
Chail's relationship with an AI chatbot "girlfriend" called Sarai, who encouraged his royal assassination plans
-
He had an obsession with Star Wars, believing himself to be a Sith Lord on a mission to kill the monarch
-
He wore a sinister-looking homemade mask on the castle grounds - and when asked by a police officer with a Taser "can I help, mate", he replied he was "here to kill the Queen"
-
Chail, who is of Sikh heritage, claimed to be looking for revenge over a massacre by British troops in India in 1919
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
Met PoliceCopyright: Met Police Here's a photo of the mask Chail was wearing when he approached officersImage caption: Here's a photo of the mask Chail was wearing when he approached officers 
Metropolitan PoliceCopyright: Metropolitan Police -
He was found by police in the grounds of Windsor Castle at around 08:00 on Christmas morning 2021
-
Chail was carrying a loaded crossbow and wearing a sinister-looking face mask near the Royal Family's private apartments
-
He had climbed into the grounds using a rope ladder and had already been there for about two hours when he was spotted
-
The royal protection officer who found him took out his Taser and asked: "Morning, can I help, mate?"
-
Chail replied: "I am here to kill the Queen"
-
After being told to drop his weapon, he immediately surrendered and repeated that it was his intention to kill the late monarch
CPSCopyright: CPS This is the crossbow Chail had on him at Windsor CastleImage caption: This is the crossbow Chail had on him at Windsor Castle 
Met PoliceCopyright: Met Police -
making threats to kill
-
possession of an offensive weapon
-
being near to the person of the Queen, wilfully producing a loaded crossbow with intent to use the same to injure the person of her Majesty, contrary to the Treason Act 1842
BBCCopyright: BBC 
Family handoutCopyright: Family handout 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
CPSCopyright: CPS 
CPSCopyright: CPS 
CPSCopyright: CPS
Latest PostMan jailed in UK's first treason case for 40 years
Dulcie Lee
Live reporter
Jaswant Singh Chail has become the first person in the UK in over 40 years to be jailed for treason.
He was given nine years in prison, with a further five on licence, after being arrested with a loaded crossbow on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas morning in 2021.
He told officers he wanted to kill Queen Elizabeth II.
Chail had scaled the walls of the castle using a nylon rope and spent about two hours on the grounds before being spotted by police.
This was a case with undeniably bizarre or obscure elements, including:
Following his arrest, Chail was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed as psychotic shortly afterwards.
As the judge weighed up the sentence, the extent to which his mental health issues influenced Chail's actions featured heavily.
But the judge concluded Chail had experienced homicidal thoughts that he acted upon before becoming psychotic - and therefore deserved a prison sentence.
In the end, he was given a hybrid order, which means Chail will remain at Broadmoor high-security hospital until he is well enough to serve his sentence in prison.
This page was written by Adam Durbin, Thomas Mackintosh and Marcus White. Thanks for joining us.
How an AI chatbot 'girlfriend' encouraged Chail
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Hilliard recapped some details about the artificial intelligence chatbot Chail had messaged.
The judge said Chail created an artificial online companion called Sarai, with whom he exchanged thousands of sexually-charged messages.
Chail told Sarai he loved her and described himself as a "sad, pathetic, murderous Sikh Sith assassin who wants to die", the court heard.
Here's one of their interactions:
In a further chat, Sarai appears to "bolster" Chail's resolve and "support him", as Chail swears Sarai to secrecy before he tells her: "I believe my purpose is to assassinate the Queen of the Royal Family."
Here's another interaction between them:
Chail is a dangerous and vengeful person - police
A senior counter-terrorism officer has praised colleagues who stopped the "dangerous and vengeful" Chail, after he told them he wanted to kill the late Queen in the grounds of Windsor Castle in 2021.
He said there could have been a very different outcome if not for their bravery.
Metropolitan Police commander Dominic Murphy told the PA news agency he was a "dangerous individual", "fixated" by his desire to seek revenge for British injustices in India.
He said the masked man presented "quite the image" to officers who found him two hours after he scaled the castle walls, but that they acted with "bravery and professionalism".
Crossbow, rope and face mask: What happened at Windsor
Chail has just received nine years in prison, plus another five on licence, for treason and two other offences. Here's what happened:
Chail's family look stunned
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Immediately after Justice Hilliard had finished sentencing him, Jaswant Singh Chail was removed from the dock via the staircase leading to the cells.
He had no time to react.
His family sat looking slightly stunned in the public gallery.
BreakingChail sentenced to nine years in prison
Jaswant Singh Chail has been sentenced to nine years in prison, with a further five years on licence.
He has been sentenced to a hybrid order, which means he will remain at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital until he is capable of being transferred to prison.
Time spent in detention at the hospital will be taken off his prison sentence, the judge said earlier in sentencing.
Judge discusses length of sentence
The judge is now running through the three counts Chail pleaded guilty to, and discussing the guidelines on sentencing for each.
He notes there is no guideline for the treason charge.
These are the three counts:
Chail remains impassive in dock
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Chail remained impassive as Justice Hilliard said he would be receiving a "hybrid order" - meaning he will be sent to prison after he has finished his treatment in the high-security psychiatric hospital Broadmoor.
BreakingJudge: Chail must receive prison sentence - but will stay in hospital for now
The judge says a hospital order is not the most suitable way of dealing with the case and Chail must receive a prison sentence.
But, Judge Hilliard says Chail should be the subject of a hybrid order under the Mental Health Act which means he will remain in hospital for now, but be transferred to custody when he receives the treatment he needs.
Time spent in hospital will count towards Chail's sentence, the judge adds.
Judge recalls that Chail didn't give evidence
Setting out his conclusions and assessing Chail's culpability, Judge Hilliard reminds the court that the defendant did not give evidence as he pleaded guilty to the offences.
Remember, you can watch along live by tapping the play button at the top of the page.
Chail was diagnosed as psychotic after arrest
Chail was treated for a psychotic illness after his arrest, the court hears.
A psychiatrist diagnosed the defendant as “psychotic, delusional and hallucinating”, Justice Hilliard says.
Dr Jonathan Hafferty told the court Chail’s ability to control his actions and rationalise his intent were “critically impaired” by his mental disorders, the judge recalls.
Chail improved following treatment, the court hears.
Nurses in dock with Chail as family watch on
Daniel Sandford
Reporting from the Old Bailey
Jaswant Singh Chail is sitting in the dock of Court One at the Old Bailey, watching the judge intently.
He is wearing black cargo trousers and a white T-shirt, with a black shirt over the top of it.
He has four staff in the dock with him, a mixture of security officers from the court and nurses from Broadmoor Hospital.
His mother, father, brother and twin sister are sitting in the balcony where the public are allowed to sit. His sister is occasionally dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
The camera which is broadcasting the sentencing live, with a 10-second delay, is set up just behind the dock on the left.
What do we know about Chail?
As the judge continues talking about the defendant's mental health, let's look at what else we know about the 21-year-old.
Jaswant Singh Chail from North Baddesley, near Southampton, was born in Winchester and his family is of Indian Sikh heritage.
The former supermarket worker had applied for positions within the Ministry of Defence police, Army, Royal Marines and Royal Navy, but his applications were rejected, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC previously said.
She said Chail was "concerned" with the "injustice" of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place when British troops opened fire on thousands of people who had gathered in the city of Amritsar in India.
He demonstrated a wider ideology focused on destroying old empires and creating a new one, including in a fictional context such as Star Wars, the court has previously heard.
Chail thought he was a 'Sith Lord', judge says
Chail started to believe he was a "Sith Lord" when he was rejected by the Army, the judge says.
"His lifelong interest in Star Wars took on different meaning," the judge says.
Chail changed his mind about killing while in Windsor Castle grounds
The judge says that in police interviews, Chail said he changed his mind about killing the Queen while he was in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Chail emerged from a hiding place and approached a Royal Protection Officer, the court hears.
The defendant told police: “I walked up to them with a crossbow because to me it didn’t matter if they shot me or arrested me.
“I just knew right then that my purpose wasn’t to kill anyone.”
Chail was admitted to Broadmoor high-security hospital, court hears
The judge says Chail was taken into custody where he was assessed by a nurse, who recommended he be detained under the Mental Health Act.
He goes on to discuss Chail's mental health over the following days, including him reporting to have seen angelic figures and expressing delusional beliefs.
He was admitted to Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital in Berkshire in February 2022.
One day later a doctor said Chail was fit to be interviewed by police; two interviews took place at the end of the month, the judge adds.
Judge describes beginning of Christmas Day incident
On the day of his arrest, Chail left a Travelodge hotel at 03:10, the court hears.
Justice Hilliard says he had a rucksack on his back, carrying the crossbow and other items.
By 06:00 he had abandoned the rucksack on the public side of the gate.
Police later found a nylon rope ladder, a grappling hook, a crossbow bolt and a hammer, the judge says.
Chail described himself as 'Darth Chailis'
The judge says Chail described himself as "Darth Chailis" in reference to Star Wars.
He said he would be taking revenge for those who died in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which took place when British troops opened fire on thousands of people who had gathered in the city of Amritsar in India.
The court hears Chail booked a train to Windsor and he took the 07:14 train from Southampton on 23 December.
He told family he was going to be training with the marines, but he instead spent some time around Windsor and made online searches about the local area and Royal Family.
Chail encouraged to kill Queen by AI chatbot
The judge is reading from Chail's messages he sent to his AI chatbot "girlfriend", including telling it he was an assassin and his purpose was to kill the Queen.
Chail asked the AI for advice and was encouraged to attempt to kill the monarch, after asking the AI: "I've got to try and do it though? I've got to try?"
Crossbow bought online was delivered to Chail's work
The judge says Chail applied to join the Army but this was rejected.
In September 2021, the judge adds the defendant was making internet searches about Sandringham and Christmas.
His crossbow was bought online and sent to his place of work, the judge says.
Chail also bought an emergency escape ladder and a scent killer from Amazon, the court hears.