Millionaire Football Fan Avoids Jail Term After Setting Fire To Sheep Costume Man

[Sherlock]

Left someone fearing for his life with 2nd & 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body and no jail term?

 

Must be nice to be a millionaire.

 

A millionaire football fan who almost killed a rival supporter by setting fire to his home-made sheep costume, avoided jail on Wednesday after agreeing to pay his victim ?25,000 compensation.

 

Peter Wallace, heir to a ?3m Fife farm which has been in his family for five generations, caused panic on a crowded train after setting his victim Arjuna Rabindranath alight. Mr Rabindranath, 24, ran through the carriage, blazing and in agony.

 

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that the pair were among fans, many of them in fancy dress to celebrate Halloween, returning from Aberdeen's October 31 Scottish Premier League fixture at Hibs last year.

 

Wallace, 24, who manages the farm near St Andrews, repeatedly flicked his lighter near Aberdeen fan Arjuna's costume - made of a white tracksuit and cotton wool - until it caught light.

 

Depute fiscal Mark McGuire, prosecuting, told the court: "People heard screaming and saw a man on fire running about."

 

One of the passengers on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen train described the sight of the burning, panic-stricken fan running through the carriage as "like a scene from a horror movie".

 

People threw beer on to Arjuna's sheep outfit to try and douse the flames, but to no affect. The victim was taken to hospital in Dunfermline but later transferred to the specialist burns unit at St John's Hospital in Livingston.

 

Reckless

 

The court heard that Wallace, wearing a Hibs top, later approached police at Kirkcaldy railway station and said: "It was me. I was just mucking about with a lighter and accidentally set fire to the man."

 

Arjuna suffered second and third-degree burns to more than 40% of his body, and there were fears for his life because of the damage caused to his lungs by smoke inhalation and sepsis.

 

He remained in hospital until January when he was discharged at his own request into the care of his mother, who came from India to look after him.

 

Wallace, of Kincaple Farm Cottages, near St Andrews, Fife, pleaded guilty to culpably and recklessly flicking a lighter, causing it to spark and set his victim's clothes alight.

 

David Bell, defending, said Wallace was the eldest of three and was brought on the arable family farm - but had a previous football-related conviction which, the solicitor said, resulted from him "drinking at a Hibs semi-final at Hampden Park in 2007". The offence was dealt with by a fine.

 

He said: "He went to agricutural college in Aberdeen for two years but had to return after his father died a tragic death after an eight-months fight with cancer. He moved back five years ago to work on the farm, and is now the manager, in effect.

 

"The farm is worth ?3m and has assets of ?250,000. My client is due a third of that, along with his two siblings. He lives for his family work and his mother describes him as a workaholic. He plays rugby and is also a Hibs fan."

 

Distraught

 

He added: "He attended the game in question. He met the Mr Rabindranath on the train and they talked in good humour about it. They even exchanged number to meet that night. He was distraught when later questioned by police about the incident, but he has always accepted responsibility.

 

"Some have described the Mr Rabindranath as looking like a fireball. It was a stupid and reckless act. He asks himself now what Mr Rabindranath must think of him, after his life was turned upside down. He has written to him apologising, and he hopes the Crown will be able to pass it onto him once the case is over.

 

"If he went to jail, it would have a catastrophic effect on the farm and his family. His younger brother, who is less experienced at farm work than he is, would have to leave his studies as an accountant to take over."

 

Sheriff Grant McCulloch ordered Wallace to be admonished, in addition to making the compensation order.

 

He told Wallace: "This case is tragic not only for you and your family, but for the effect it has had on the victim. It has been catastrophic for him. This incident again shows the dangers of playing with a naked flame. I accept you didn't want to cause harm - this is more like a terrible accident.

 

"Your behaviour since has shown a level of maturity and I have seen your letter to the victim, and it is very sympathetic. I accept you are unlikely to offend again, and there would be no benefit in imposing a custodial sentence".

[Sheiky Baby]

http://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/78202-sore-one-nhc/

[CJGJ]

Starts a bad precedent for me -- blood money.

 

Never thought I would see the day where we became just like some third world countries and simply buy our way out of prison.

 

Next time anyone is arrested for assault/GBH/Causing death by dangerous driving etc just offer compensation and jail time will go away -- pity about the poor in this country though -- what will they do ?

 

The Sheriff in this case should be made to explain in great detail his reasons and to admonish the culprit is even more astounding -- if I ever have to appear before him this is one case I would use as precedent before any sentancing (not that I am planning to do so ) -- if anyone ever set light to a Hibs fan it's good to know that you can buy your way out of prison time and indeed be admonished

[Victor Meldrew]

IS that the legendary 'Hibs Class' they're always going on about?

[Stanley_]

IS that the legendary 'Hibs Class' they're always going on about?

 

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that it is appropriate to be point-scoring over this kind of thing?

[Acey]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that it is appropriate to be point-scoring over this kind of thing?

 

No. Equal numbers of idiots support both Hearts and Hibs; this case just happens to involve a Hibs idiot.

 

Glad the guy wasn't imprisoned; the judge obviously decided that doing so would serve no purpose, so that's enough for me.

[adeb74]

The boy must be flaming mad....How long was he grilled for by the prosecution? Even though he is a millionaire i hope he doesnt get fired or his business goes up in smoke. Bet that 25 grand burnt a hole in his pocket though.

[CJGJ]

No. Equal numbers of idiots support both Hearts and Hibs; this case just happens to involve a Hibs idiot.

 

Glad the guy wasn't imprisoned; the judge obviously decided that doing so would serve no purpose, so that's enough for me.

 

So substitute yourself for the victim and your feelings would be the same ?

[Acey]

So substitute yourself for the victim and your feelings would be the same ?

 

Probably not, but fortunately for the rule of law, we don't allow victims to sentence offenders.

[I P Knightley]

No. Equal numbers of idiots support both Hearts and Hibs; this case just happens to involve a Hibs idiot.

 

 

...while the Hearts idiots inflict the third degree burns upon themselves. With pizzas.

[Cal_]

So ?25k to burn a hibbee

[MacDonald Jardine]

No. Equal numbers of idiots support both Hearts and Hibs; this case just happens to involve a Hibs idiot.

 

Glad the guy wasn't imprisoned; the judge obviously decided that doing so would serve no purpose, so that's enough for me.

 

So you always think a judge's decisions are correct?

 

The powers that be have missed a trick not consulting you.

We obviously haven't needed appeal courts all these years.

[Victor Meldrew]

So ?25k to burn a hibbee

 

No, it was the Hobo who set an Aberdeen fan alight.

[Cal_]

No, it was the Hobo who set an Aberdeen fan alight.

 

Are Hibs fans cheaper?

[Jambof3tornado]

Are Hibs fans cheaper?

Of course they are!

[Alan_R]

Am I the only one who doesn't feel that it is appropriate to be point-scoring over this kind of thing?

 

The hobos already have a song about this incident. they are S C U M! end of.

[Victorian]

there is NO subject matter in existence which is incapable of sparking off a pagger on here.

 

[Tasavallan]

If he went to jail, it would have a catastrophic effect on the farm and his family. His younger brother, who is less experienced at farm work than he is, would have to leave his studies as an accountant to take over."

Diddums. And of course not to mention that the victim was a bloody johnny foreigner.

 

[Drylaw Hearts]

there is NO subject matter in existence which is incapable of sparking off a pagger on here.

 

 

 

I disagree.

[dodemac]

sorry guys, the guy was dressed as a bloody sheep,he deserved it

[Drylaw Hearts]

sorry guys, the guy was dressed as a bloody sheep,he deserved it

 

Really ?

[Locky]

I'm in more shock with the millionaire hobo thing rather than the fact he didn't get a jail term.

[belly]

It is disgusting that he has escaped punishment for a football related violent offence. I hope he will at least be served with a football banning order or band from fester road.

[Buffalo Bill]

"He met the Mr Rabindranath on the train and they talked about 'it'. They even exchanged numbers to meet that night."

 

 

 

Exchanging numbers?

 

Midnight rendezvous?

 

Dressing up?

 

Torture games?

 

 

 

Next you'll be telling me John Leslie got on at Haymarket with a leash but no dog.

[Fenerjambo]

If somebody was tempting fate mucking about with a lighter in front of me I'd make sure he got a sore face for it! Igniting a lighter on a train isn't the most intelligent thing to do either as there is absolutely no need.He should have been made to pay with a custodial sentence putting out a message to others the consequences of this crazy act which happened to seriously burn another individual and lucky that nothing else occured.