A London judge said 1980s pop idol Adam Ant suffered a “temporary episode” of mental illness when he threatened pub customers with a fake pistol, and sentenced him today (Oct. 2) to a year’s community service and rehabilitation treatment. Justice Jeremy Roberts also ordered Ant to pay $780 in compensation to a man who needed three stitches after being hit in the head by a car alternator that Ant flung through the window of the Prince of Wales pub in January.
“There is no question of a prison sentence here,” Roberts said. “What you did was rather serious and could have had worse consequences than it did. The psychiatrists are agreed that you were suffering a temporary episode of a recognized mental disorder which could have substantially impaired the responsibility for what you did.”
The 48-year-old singer, who appeared in court under his real name of Stuart Goddard, had pleaded guilty to one charge of brawling. After the incident at the north London bar, Ant was committed to a hospital under the Mental Health Act, which allows doctors to detain patients for their own well-being.
Paul Bowen, Ant’s lawyer, said the singer is receiving psychiatric treatment. Ant, whose hits include “Strip” and “Goody Two-Shoes,” left the court without commenting to reporters.
Bowen told the court Ant was angry that customers mocked his flat cap and combat jacket when he entered the pub on Jan. 12. Ant later threw a car alternator through the pub window, which hit musician Pavlos Contostavlos on the back of the head.
Customers pursued Ant, who threatened them with an imitation wartime starter’s pistol. He later was seen trying to hide the weapon under the seat of a cab that police stopped.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
