Petite athlete who hit 6ft 3in policeman and pub doorman
AS Britain’s top female athlete in the sport of orienteering, Catherine Taylor is used to navigating her way through challenging terrain.
But a night of drinking in Inverness instead saw the petite competitor locked in a cell after she punched a pub doorman and a police officer.
Taylor, who is from Whitby, North Yorkshire, but spends most of her time training in Sweden, was in the Highlands for the World Orienteering Championship in August last year.
After competing in four events and finishing 5th, the 26-year-old, who is only 5ft 5in tall and weighs less than seven-and-a-half stone, was eager to go out to celebrate with other competitors.
However the elite athlete consumed too much alcohol and ended up assaulting a door steward and a 6ft 3in policeman, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
She admitted two charges of assault which occurred after midnight on August 8, and was fined £300 by Sheriff Margaret Neilson.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley told the court that Taylor was refused entry to the Caledonian bar in Inverness’s High Street because she was too drunk.
‘She took exception to this and punched door steward John Barclay on the back of the head. She was taken to Burnett Road Police Station where she punched PC Colin Scott in the face.’
Taylor was not i n court but defence lawyer Mike Chapman told the sheriff that no injuries were caused by the blows because of ‘her stature’.
He said: ‘At the end of the competition, she was exhausted but had to wait in wet clothes for an hour for a drugs test.
‘She says that was the beginning of a disastrous day for her. She had nothing to eat and drank alcohol. She doesn’t normally drink and coupled with her being so small, it had a greater effect on her.’
Mr Chapman added: ‘She knows it is no excuse for her behaviour. She is extremely embarrassed and remorseful at what happened.’
The lawyer also stressed that this was an ‘isolated incident’ and Taylor had no previous convictions.
Mike Hamilton, chief executive of British Orienteering, said yesterday: ‘After the many successes of the world championships in Inverness, it is a great pity that there was such an unfortunate incident.
‘Catherine is a very talented orienteer and had worked extremely hard in the lead-up to the championships. We continue to support Cat, working with her to ensure this behaviour is not repeated.’
‘She doesn’t normally drink’