Imposter in Marathon number scam is locked up

AN impostor who finished the London Marathon after taking a race number dropped by a Scots runner near the end was jailed for 16 weeks yesterday.

Stanislaw Skupian crossed the line with legitimate competitor Jake Halliday’s number after spotting it near the end of the 26.2-mile race, a court heard. The homeless 38-year-old Pole was pictured, above, celebrating with a finisher’s medal on April 22.

Mr Halliday, 28, from Edinburgh, was running for the charity Bloodwise. He had dropped his number after taking off his T-shirt. He was running with his friend Andrew Keiller as part of an Edinburgh trio fundraising for Mr Keiller’s girlfriend Emma, who was diagnosed with nonHodgkin lymphoma in October 2016.

Jameela Jamroz, defending, told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in west London that Skupian, a father of one, had wanted to take part in the race.

He did not enter, but did go to watch. She said he saw the race number on the ground and used it to finish the race.

Skupian admitted fraud by false representation and three unrelated thefts.