UK boat race protester jailed for 6 months
Thursday, October 18, 2012
LONDON (AP) -- A British man has been sentenced to six months in jail for disrupting the annual Boat Race between English universities Oxford and Cambridge by jumping into the River Thames.
Trenton Oldfield was convicted last month of causing a public nuisance after he halted the race April 7 by swimming into the middle of the river. Oldfield, who narrowly avoided being struck by the oars of both crews, had claimed his move was a protest against elitism and privilege.
The 36-year-old was sentenced Friday at London's Isleworth Crown Court and ordered to pay 750 pounds ($1,200) in costs for disrupting the 158th running of the race.
The race, one of England's oldest sporting rivalries, was eventually won by Cambridge after stopping for about 30 minutes because of the stunt.
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