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Man who threw bottle, abused Bolt before Olympic 100 final given 8-week community punishment
Ashley Gill-Webb leaves the Thames Magistrates Court, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in London. Gill-Webb, who threw a plastic beer bottle onto the track and shouted abuse at Usain Bolt before the men's 100-meter final at the London Olympics, has been given an eight-week community punishment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Sang Tan
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Complete coverage of the Paralympic games in London.
LONDON - A man who threw a plastic beer bottle onto the track and shouted abuse at Usain Bolt before the men's 100-meter final at the London Olympics will be electronically tagged for eight weeks as part of his community punishment.
Ashley Gill-Webb was also told at his sentencing on Monday he will be subject to a curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during that period.
District Judge William Ashworth said Gill-Webb tarnished "the spirit of the games" by attempting to distract Bolt just as the eight finalists were settled in their blocks for the race on Aug. 5.
The bottle landed behind the lane markers. Bolt, who won the gold medal in 9.63 seconds, said after the race that he hadn't noticed the disturbance.
"The potential harm of triggering a false start was significant," Ashworth said. "By good fortune, you failed."
Gill-Webb, who suffers from bipolar affective disorder, was found guilty by a London court last month of using threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour and convicted of public disorder.
"At the time of the offence, you were in the throes of a manic episode," Ashworth said. "This made you over-confident and your behaviour risky.
"I have reduced your punishment to take account of the effects of your illness."
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