£1m lottery winner asks for month to pay £110 fine
Plea after she admits assault charge
AS Britain’s youngest ever Euro-Millions winner, she might be expected to have a bit of spare cash.
But when Jane Park admitted assaulting a nightclub bouncer, the £110 fine she received was, she claimed, a little more than she could afford.
Park, 21, who won £1million aged 17, asked for a month to pay when she was handed down a fiscal penalty for slapping a man during a drunken night out.
When she scooped the cash in 2013, Park vowed to spend it on a customised white Range Rover with pink interior, a season ticket for her beloved Hibernian and a holiday in Ibiza with her friends.
She has since returned to working in a chip shop, stating that she preferred a ‘working routine’ to a life of leisure, while her love life has made the pages of tabloid newspapers.
Park has also appeared on TV talking about her wealth, including ITV’s This Morning where she told Philip Schofield and Amanda Holden she preferred High Street fashion to designer brands.
She also said that she preferred holidays in Magaluf and Benidorm to hanging out in first-class resorts in exclusive locations.
Yesterday, however, Park found herself in the less salubrious surroundings of Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where she pleaded guilty to assaulting door steward Lee Rutherford at the capital’s City nightclub on February 1, 2015.
Meanwhile, her friend Jordan Archibald, 25, admitted struggling with police sergeant Kevin Smith. He attempted to headbutt Sergeant Smith and swore at him.
The pair, both of Edinburgh, changed their not guilty pleas and admitted their involvement shortly before their trial was due to begin.
Archibald, from Leith, pleaded guilty to struggling with Sergeant Smith and attempting to headbutt him.
Park, of Niddrie, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Rutherford by slapping him on the head.
Depute procurator fiscal Kirsty Lyons told the court that the pair got involved in an argument while on a night out at the club.
Bouncers phoned the police after the pair’s behaviour became ‘unacceptable’.
Officers arrived at the nightclub and attempted to take Archibald into custody.
Miss Lyons said: ‘The accused struggled with the police sergeant named in the complaint. He was handcuffed and he began to struggle with the policeman.’
The court was told Archibald tried to headbutt the officer and swore at him.
Meanwhile, the court heard that Park got herself into a confrontation with Mr Rutherford.
Miss Lyons added: ‘The complainer Lee Rutherford and the accused were arguing with each other. She slapped him.’
The court heard that the pair were then taken into custody by police officers.
Archibald’s solicitor David Patterson told the court that his client had been drinking and was sorry for what he had done.
Mr Patterson said: ‘He realises that his behaviour was completely unacceptable.’
Park’s solicitor Stephen Mannifeld said: ‘She reached forward and slapped him. She also regrets her involvement in the matter.’ Sheriff Peter Braid fined Archibald £180 and fined Park £110. The Sheriff told Park: ‘Your conduct was unacceptable. You assaulted a gentleman who was doing his job.’
Sheriff Braid then asked the defence solicitors whether their clients wanted time to pay their fines.
Park leaned forward from the dock and told Mr Mannifeld that she wanted one month to pay the penalty.
Archibald told Mr Patterson that he wanted the same amount of time.