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| London Marathon cheat Stanislaw Skupian jailed for fraud | London Marathon cheat Stanislaw Skupian jailed for fraud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A homeless man who pretended to finish the London Marathon after he found a lost race number has been jailed for 16 weeks. | A homeless man who pretended to finish the London Marathon after he found a lost race number has been jailed for 16 weeks. |
| Stanislaw Skupian, 38, was pictured with a finisher's medal at the end of the 26.2-mile race on 22 April. | Stanislaw Skupian, 38, was pictured with a finisher's medal at the end of the 26.2-mile race on 22 April. |
| But he had only carried it about 300m after picking up Jake Halliday's number from the ground near the finish. | But he had only carried it about 300m after picking up Jake Halliday's number from the ground near the finish. |
| Skupian admitted one count of fraud by false representation and three unrelated theft offences. | Skupian admitted one count of fraud by false representation and three unrelated theft offences. |
| He was sentenced to 13 weeks for the fraud and three weeks for the thefts at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. | He was sentenced to 13 weeks for the fraud and three weeks for the thefts at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court. |
| 'Dream come true' | 'Dream come true' |
| Mr Halliday lost his starting number when he took his T-shirt off on what was the hottest London Marathon on record. | Mr Halliday lost his starting number when he took his T-shirt off on what was the hottest London Marathon on record. |
| Skupian, of no fixed address, spotted it on the ground and crossed the line, before collecting Mr Halliday's medal in what he saw as a "dream come true", the court heard. | Skupian, of no fixed address, spotted it on the ground and crossed the line, before collecting Mr Halliday's medal in what he saw as a "dream come true", the court heard. |
| Defence lawyer Jameela Jamroz said: "At the time he hadn't fully appreciated that he was doing anything wrong. | |
| "He dedicated the completion of it to his seven-year-old son and to homeless people to inspire them that good things can happen to those that are less fortunate." | |
| Ms Jamroz said Skupian became homeless after separating from his wife and taking time off work for a neck injury from a serious car crash. | |
| He suffered a short, temporary mental breakdown shortly before the marathon, she added. | |
| London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel said Skupian's actions could damage the event's reputation and integrity, the court heard. | |
| After Thursday's sentencing, Mr Bitel added: "It is good to see that justice has been done." | |
| The court heard Mr Halliday was "shocked" to learn about photos of Skupian celebrating with his number. | |
| Mr Halliday, who had been running for blood cancer charity Bloodwise, did not complete the race. | Mr Halliday, who had been running for blood cancer charity Bloodwise, did not complete the race. |
| Matt Lawley, head of sports at Bloodwise, said he was "really grateful" for the "incredible" £49,000 Mr Halliday and two friends raised to fund the charity's research. | |