Tyson "Freedom George" Billings exited the Ottawa court on Wednesday carrying the Canadian flag amid a flood of chants and horns after pleading guilty to a charge related to a protest convoy that took over the city earlier this year. Billings served 116 days in jail before admitting responsibility for the protests and the chaos he caused.

Including intimidation, obstructing police work, assault, and contempt of court. Billings said outside the courtroom minutes after his release amid cheers from a crowd of about 50 supporters, some of whom participated in the February protests, "I am not sorry for that."

Billings was a key figure in the three-week-long demonstration against COVID-19 restrictions and the federal government.

Protesters in large drilling rigs and other trucks closed streets for weeks, formed camps, forced businesses to close, and stirred a sense of what police and politicians described as "chaos" in downtown Ottawa.

According to the agreed statement of facts read aloud in court, Billings was filmed in social media videos defying police checkpoints designed to keep people out of downtown Ottawa during the protest and encouraging others to disrupt the checkpoints as well.

Billings also recorded himself as anti-police and encouraged other protesters to "stand in line." Billings said after leaving court: "I am not sorry for anything."

Kareemji said in court that he could have sought to prove the other allegations against Billings and pursued a longer prison sentence, but chose not to in light of the fact that Billings is the first figure in the convoy to take responsibility for his actions.

Billings was sentenced to the time served and remained under surveillance for six months on condition that he keep the peace.

Billings was originally charged along with prominent protest organizer Pat King. Now that Billings' charges have been dropped, King will face these charges alone, and his trial is expected to proceed as planned.