THE man who tried to disrupt the biggest event of the London Olympics has been sentenced to an eight-week community order.

Ashley Gill-Webb, from South Milford, near Selby, used an old ticket to get into the Olympic Stadium on August 5 last year, and proceeded to hurl abuse at Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the men's 100m final, before throwing a plastic beer bottle onto the track from the stands.

Following the incident, Gill-Webb, 34, who suffers from bipolar affective disorder, was confronted by Dutch female Judo champion Edith Bosch, then escorted from the stadium and arrested by police.

District Judge William Ashworth, sentencing, told Gill-Webb his punishment had been reduced to take account of the effects of his illness.

He said: “At the time of the offence, you were in the throes of a manic episode. This made you over-confident and your behaviour risky.”

Gill-Webb did not give evidence in the trial, but always denied throwing the bottle. However, forensic officers found his DNA on the bottle, and CCTV appeared to show him checking whether he was under observation prior to the incident.

Last month, Gill-Webb appeared before Stratford Magistrates’ Court in London charged with intending to cause the runners harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour, and was convicted of two charges under the Public Order Act.

Yesterday, London’s Thames Magistrates’ Court sentenced Gill-Webb to an eight-week community order for public disorder. He will be electronically-monitored and be subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew, and was also ordered to pay a £1,500 contribution to prosecution costs.

District Judge Ashworth said: "Your intention was to target the highest-profile event at the London Olympic and put off Usain Bolt. The potential harm of triggering a false start was significant. By good fortune, you failed. You did, however, spoil the occasion for some spectators and tarnish the spirit of the Games."