Slovakian fountain stunt groom released

Wedding back on as dad says 'sorry' for nude escapade

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 8th June 2007 10:38 GMT

The Worcestershire builder cuffed for jumping naked into a fountain in Bratislava during drunken stag night revels and subsequently slapped with a two-month jail sentence for his trouble has been released, the BBC reports.

Stephen Mallone, 25, was arrested on 26 May, and looked likely to miss his 15 June wedding to 22-year-old Kerry Stokes following his "fast-tracking" into chokey. His parents Susan and Chris quickly flew to Slovakia, while the Foreign Office and his MP Bill Wiggin confirmed they were "offering assistance".

In the end, it was an FO-appointed legal team which secured Mallone's release, and Wiggin praised their efforts and described himself as "delighted" at the news. He added: "I have spoken to him and he is over the moon. The whole family are drained, but they are all very relieved."

Mallone's dad, meanwhile, was tasked with apologising for his son's behaviour. He said the escapade was "in good humour but was a stupid act", stressing that the family "unreservedly apologise for any distress or offence caused by Stephen to the people of Bratislava".

He did, however, deny that "any sexual or lewd act" took place in the water feature - a reference to local news reports that Mallone was cracking one off when the boys in blue intervened. He also bemoaned the fact that his son had "been denied legal representation and access to a phone". ®

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