A daredevil who “stupidly” scaled a 13-storey car park while blindfolded said he realised his climbing days were over when it started threatening his career prospects.
Robbie Borthwick was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, having previously admitted committing a breach of the peace by clambering up the building at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A video of the reckless act posted on Youtube showed Borthwick putting on a blindfold before free-climbing the 100ft-tall Lady Helen Parking Centre.
The stunt was described as a “Birdbox Challenge” – an online fad linked to a Sandra Bullock film about people being forced to live life blindfolded.
Other videos Borthwick uploaded show him hanging from a crane on a work site during construction of the Aberdeen bypass and another swallowing a knife while hanging from an electricity pylon.
During sentencing yesterday Sheriff Ian Wallace told the 22-year-old: “It is obvious the behaviour you engaged in was stupid and risky – not just for yourself but others.
“But it is clear from this report that you are capable of engaging with this process.”
Borthwick, of Hartington Road in Aberdeen, was given four months to complete the court ordered hours.
He said the tragedy of his mother’s death had pushed him to take up the reckless behaviour – but then he discovered “a love for it”.
On the steps of the sheriff court afterwards, Borthwick said his stuntman days were behind him.
He said: “When I lost my job, that’s when it clicked this wasn’t worth it.
“This could potentially ruin any chance of a career for me. I would rather stop it now before it gets any worse.
“I was getting fined. I have just been given community service. There are a lot of things making it no longer worth it.”
Painting himself a reformed character, Borthwick pledged to build a life for himself away from his thrill-seeking antics.
He added: “I want try and get a serious career behind me.
“I want to go and do exciting things like travelling, there are better things to do than scale up stuff.
“I’m not entirely sure what I want to do. I want to get a trade under my belt.
“Something – as long as it’s not climbing.”
