Man spared from prison
In this Sunday Aug. 6, 2012 photo, a man, identified by police as Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, is detained by security after a bottle was thrown onto the track just before the men's 100-meter final at the London 2012 Olympic Games in London August 5, 2012. Gill-Web was charged Monday Aug. 6 with a public order offense and was to appear later in custody at Stratford Magistrates Court. He was charged with intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress, police said. (AP Photo/Chris Helgren, Pool)
A MAN who threw a beer bottle at 100m Olympic finalists has been spared jail - having been found guilty of public disorder.
Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, of South Milford, was suffering a “manic episode” when he used an old ticket to get into the Olympic Park and then the stadium, where he hurled abuse at Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt then threw a plastic beer bottle on to the track on August 5.
Gill-Webb was found guilty at Stratford Magistrates’ Court, east London, of intending to cause 100m finalists harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour, contrary to Section 4 of the Public Order Act as well as an alternative charge contrary to Section 5 of the act.
District Judge Ashworth said he would be given a community sentence, and not face prison.
Gill-Webb, who suffers from bipolar affective disorder, pushed his way to the front of an exclusive seating area at the stadium and started shouting: “Usain, I want you to lose. Usain, you are bad, you are an a*sehole, “ the court heard last week.
He then threw the bottle as the race - which Bolt won - started.
The 34-year-old was confronted by Dutch judo champion Edith Bosch, then escorted from the stadium and arrested.
Prosecutor Neil King described him mingling with members of the Dutch Olympic team, but his “shouting and jostling”, then throwing the bottle, led to a confrontation with judoka Ms Bosch.
In a statement, she described how he pushed past her to get to the front of the seating.
“He was shouting specifically at Usain Bolt. Things like Usain, I want you to lose. Usain, you are bad, you are an a*sehole’,”“ she said. Other witnesses saw Gill-Webb shouting at finalists including Bolt, fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake, and US sprinter Justin Gatlin. Student Farzin Mirshahi heard him yell: “Believe in Blake, no Usain” while her brother, Kiya Mirshahi, heard: “Usain, no, Justin, you are a druggie, believe in Blake, no Usain, no.”
After the incident, Gill-Webb - who the court heard has since lost his job - was escorted from the stadium and then arrested.
His behaviour in police custody was said to be “somewhat unusual”, and he told officers that he was Scottish actor Alan Cumming, signing a statement with the star’s name.
Gill-Webb, who did not give evidence during his trial, originally denied throwing the bottle, but his DNA was later found on it.
He later said he could not remember the incident.
Prosecutor Neil King said video showed Gill-Webb looking left and right, then surreptitiously throwing the bottle, suggesting he knew what he was doing was wrong, and clearly had intent.
Rhiannon Crimmins, defending, said Gill-Webb was mentally ill at the time and the video just showed a man behaving “oddly”.
Gill-Webb’s wife, who was in the public gallery, wept as he was convicted of both charges. The court heard he has two previous convictions of criminal damage.
The case was adjourned until February 4 for a pre-sentence report. Gill-Webb was granted conditional bail until his sentencing.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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