Usain Bolt bottle thrower trial to conclude

 
11 January 2013
WEST END FINAL

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The trial of a man who got into the men's Olympic 100m final without a ticket then hurled a bottle at Usain Bolt and his rivals is to conclude today.

Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, was suffering a "manic episode" when he used an old ticket to get first into the Olympic Park, and then the stadium, where he shouted at Jamaican sprinter Bolt then threw a plastic beer bottle on to the track.

Gill-Webb, who was sectioned after his first court appearance and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, pushed his way to the front of an exclusive seating area after getting into the stadium.

There he started shouting: "Usain I want you to lose, Usain you are bad, you are an arsehole", his trial heard last week.

Bolt went on to win the race on August 5 in 9.63 seconds, despite the bottle being thrown as it started.

Gill-Webb, from South Milford, near Leeds, was confronted by Dutch judoka Edith Bosch then restrained by Locog volunteers and arrested.

His trial is due to conclude today at Stratford Magistrates' Court in east London.

Gill-Webb denies intending to cause 100m finalists harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing spectators present at the Olympic Park harassment, alarm or distress, contrary to Section 4(a) of the Public Order Act 1986.

He also denies an alternative charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress, contrary to Section Five of the act.

Gill-Webb's lawyers claim he was suffering from a manic episode at the time and could not have intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress, but prosecutors say although he was unwell, he knew what he was doing.

Last week the court heard how his "shouting and jostling" led to a confrontation with Dutch judo champion Bosch.

In a statement, she described how he pushed past her to get to the front of the exclusive seating.

"He was shouting specifically at Usain Bolt. Things like 'Usain I want you to lose, Usain you are bad, you are an arsehole'," she said.

"He repeated these taunts over and over, it went on and on for about two minutes."

She described seeing him move his arm behind his head, then forwards in a throwing motion, then seeing the bottle hit the track.

She confronted Gill-Webb, saying "Dude, are you crazy?", adding: "He was trying to walk away so I pushed him hard to stop him.

"I was angry with what he had done, which was so disrespectful."

Fellow witnesses saw Gill-Webb shouting at finalists including Bolt, fellow Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, and US sprinter Justin Gatlin.

After the incident, Gill-Webb - who has since lost his job - was escorted from the stadium by security guards and arrested.

His behaviour in police custody was said to be "somewhat unusual", and he told officers interviewing him that he was Scottish actor Alan Cumming.

Gill-Webb's DNA was later found on the beer bottle, but he originally denied throwing the bottle. Police never found any ticket on him, the court heard.

The 34-year-old later claimed he does not remember the incident.

Gill-Webb, who is on conditional bail, will return to Stratford Magistrates' Court for the conclusion of his trial today.

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