Cycling: Olympian Roulston named as brawler

Top cyclist Hayden Roulston's drunken celebration of his Olympic selection could end up costing him the biggest sporting break of his career.

Roulston, 23, of Ashburton, has been identified as the "drunk and obnoxious" Olympian who attacked two bar staff in Christchurch in June.

His name had been suppressed by the courts while he competed in Athens.

Christchurch District Court Judge John Bisphan yesterday lifted the suppression order after finding Roulston guilty of two charges of assault.

The judge also entered a conviction despite the claims of Roulston's lawyer, James Rapley, that the criminal record would jeopardise the cyclist's ability to travel to the United States for his two-year contract with one of the world's top teams, headed by six-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. 

Outside the court, Roulston said he was disappointed but declined further comment.

The court heard that he had been celebrating his Athens selection when his group arrived at the Rock Pool bar in the early hours of June 3.

When bar staff tried to eject them for drunkenness, Roulston verbally abused the barman, then struck him in the chest and elbow.

When another barman came to help, Roulston struck him four or five blows to the head.

Constable Hamish Keer-Keer said Roulston was aggressive and big-noting when arrested shortly afterwards, making statements like "You don't know who you're dealing with" and "I can do what I want".

Judge Bisphan said there was no dispute the assaults occurred and the only issue was whether Roulston could be identified beyond reasonable doubt as the attacker.

Although none of the bar staff was able to identify Roulston in court and two of them described the attacker as having blond or fair hair, the judge found the cumulative effect of the evidence from all the witnesses made him sure Roulston was the "drunk and obnoxious" assailant.

Mr Rapley said Roulston's contract with the US Postal team was an opportunity equivalent to becoming an All Black. His client had no memory of the incident, which landed him in the police cells overnight.

Mr Rapley also claimed the Rock Pool bar staff bore some responsibility for how they handled the matter and the court could take into account the stress Roulston suffered from being hounded by the media.

The judge said he could discharge Roulston without conviction only if it meant Roulston would definitely be prevented from entering the United States. The possibility of exclusion was not enough.

After prosecutor Sergeant Dave Murray opposed the discharge application, the hearing was adjourned for Mr Rapley to get information from the United States embassy.

Mr Rapley reported back, saying that a woman from the embassy said Roulston's visa application would be rejected, although he could appeal. 

However, Mr Murray told the court he had spoken to the head of non-immigrant visas at the US consulate in Auckland.

"When I put to her that common assault was at the lowest end of the scale, I was advised that normally a person would not have a problem getting a visa, especially when they are sponsored by an organisation or company," he said.

Judge Bisphan said he would have to defer sentence to resolve this "directly conflicting" evidence.

After conferring with Roulston, Mr Rapley said his client just wanted the matter "over and done with", even if it meant a conviction being entered.

The judge imposed $800 in fines, costs of $260, and $150 in witness expenses.

- NZPA