The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ex-hotel boss appeals child porn sentence
Court: 43-year-old Frenchman said photos downloaded by mistake
The former manager of a five-star hotel, who was jailed for child porn offences, will face an appeal hearing next month.
Frenchman Fabrice Gue was released on bail at the High Court in Edinburgh in July pending his appeal.
The 43- year- old collapsed in tears when he was jailed for a year at Oban Sheriff Court in June.
Gue admitted taking, permitting to be taken or making indecent photographs of a 14-year-old girl, but is appealing his sentence. During his plea in mitigation at Oban, Gue claimed the photos had been taken by the girl.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty told the court: “The 14-year-old girl was a particularly vulnerable child.”
The court heard the photos were taken between December 1, 2010 and April 24, 2012 at Piglet, The Steading, Isle of Eriska Hotel, and The Stables, Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory, or elsewhere.
Gue also admitted possessing indecent images of children at The Stables on April 24 last year.
Solicitor Gary McAteer said the pleas were based on a technicality, and that the child porn had been downloaded by mistake while he was downloading adult porn. He said Gue’s wife andf amily were standing by him.
Gue, whose address was given as The Stables, Raemoir House Hotel, Banchory, was the general manager at the Isle of Eriska Hotel near Oban.
Jailing him, Sheriff John Herald said: “I am very strongly of the view that I would be failing inmy public duty if I did not impose a custodial sentence.”
The sheriff has prepared a report tobe considered by the appeal court on October 1.