A young motocross rider who punched a man in a pub has been told he must put the brakes on his hobby for the summer after being handed a strict curfew.
Jack Allen will not be able to compete in competitions across Scotland after Sheriff Robert McDonald ruled he must “pay the price” for the attack.
The 20-year-old, currently sitting second in his class, had hoped a curfew could be avoided when he appeared in the dock at Banff Sheriff Court.
But since he’s already serving a community payback order for an earlier offence – doing naked sit-ups in Turriff – there were few punishment options left open to the court.
Handed over list of dates
Defence agent Debbie Wilson reeled off five dates over the summer where Allen was intending to travel across Scotland for motocross race meetings.
She said some races were more than four hours drive away and a curfew would stop him from attending.
But Sheriff McDonald told the biker he was not there to “make any exceptions” just to enable the young man to compete in a hobby.
Already in bother for naked sit-ups
Allen is currently serving a payback order imposed last summer after he flung a road sign and bin at a window, stripped naked on Turriff High Street, performed sit-ups, then hurled abuse and spat at police.
“You have a record, you have been given a community payback order, you have still got around 270 hours of work so do and you are on supervision until next year,” the sheriff told him.
“I don’t think a fine is an appropriate penalty for punching someone and injuring them, so all that is left is a restriction of liberty order.
“I am not making an exception for going to motocross or whatever.
“You pay a penalty for offending and you will resume your hobby in four months’ time.”
‘That’s the price you pay for hitting people’
Allen admitted a charge of assault to injury after he repeatedly punched another man on the head at the Castle Bar in Banff on July 17 last year.
Ms Wilson also argued that her client’s sponsors and those youngsters he inspired and mentored would be let down if he cannot compete.
“If he cannot go to his motocross then that’s just tough,” the sheriff ruled.
“That’s the price you pay for hitting people.”
Allen, of Fife Street, Banff, was sentenced to a curfew meaning he must stay at home between 7pm and 5am every day for the next four months.
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