£500 fine for student who threw cone

AN architectural student, who hurled a traffic cone over George IV Bridge into the street below in the early hours of New Year's Day, has been fined £500.

Sheriff Isabella McColl told Jamie Anderson, 19, his actions had been "an act of drunken thoughtlessness" which could have had tragic consequences for someone and himself.

Anderson of Newcastle, had pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court previously to culpably and recklessly throwing the cone into Merchant Street on January 1 this year. Sentence had been deferred until yesterday for background reports.

Defence agent, James Stephenson, said the background reports were "very positive".

Sheriff McColl told Anderson that having read the reports and listened to what had been said on his behalf she would not impose a custodial sentence.