Britons freed after fines for stripping

GREECE: Two Britons who were given jail sentences for stripping in public in the Greek holiday resort of Faliraki were free …

GREECE: Two Britons who were given jail sentences for stripping in public in the Greek holiday resort of Faliraki were free to fly home yesterday after paying their fines.

The pair were released by Greek authorities as a meeting was cancelled between tour operators and local authorities to discuss the behaviour of British holidaymakers.

Jemma Anne Gunning, from Frome, Somerset, faced an eight month jail sentence for stripping off in a bar in the resort after winning a "Miss Bottom 2003" contest.

The 18-year-old has now been released from her police cell after paying around €2,000.

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Jemma was led to the cell by armed officers on Tuesday after a judge said she had "insulted our Greek values".

The stunned teenager, who had been working as a nightclub PR girl, told reporters: "I can't believe this is happening to me. It's a nightmare."

A British Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday: "I believe her fine has been paid and she has now left the police station."

Meanwhile Matthew Maloney, from south Wales, who was sentenced to a year in jail after "mooning" in the street, was also free to leave the resort after his mother was thought to have wired money to him to pay his €3,000 fine.

Greek policemen were nearby when the 20-year-old pulled down his trousers on the first day of his Club 18-30 holiday. Tour operators, including First Choice and Olympic Holidays, were set to hold talks with local authorities.