British Man Charged with Organizing Mock Wedding of Minor at Disneyland Paris

A British man, aged 39, has been charged in France for allegedly orchestrating a mock wedding involving a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland Paris. French prosecutors revealed that the man, a convicted sexual offender wanted in the UK, was arrested following a tip-off from a guest at the theme park on Saturday morning. Authorities have not disclosed his name due to legal protocols surrounding ongoing investigations.

According to Jean-Baptiste Bladier, the prosecutor for the region of Meaux, the suspect had reportedly hired a local man to impersonate the father of the bride, offering €12,000 for the role. The hired actor only discovered that the bride was a child shortly before the scheduled event. The Ukrainian girl had arrived in France just two days prior and was not reported as a victim of violence or coercion in connection with the incident.

Eyewitness accounts depict a disturbing scene, as one woman, who was contracted to act as a guest, recounted her shock upon seeing a young child dressed in bridal attire. "When I saw the child, it was horrific. I burst into tears," she told BFMTV, emphasizing the emotional impact of witnessing the situation firsthand.

Preliminary investigations indicated that approximately 100 extras were enlisted to participate in the ceremony, which was intended to be filmed privately. The suspect reportedly reserved Disneyland Paris for several hours to conduct the event. Moreover, he allegedly altered his appearance significantly, using professional makeup to disguise his identity.

In addition to the British man, three others were arrested, including the girl's mother and two Latvian nationals. By Tuesday, only the British suspect remained in police custody. The British man, along with the Latvian woman, faced charges in front of a judge on June 23, including fraud, breach of trust, and identity theft, leading to his pretrial detention.

Disneyland Paris officials stated that they were misled by the organizer, who utilized a fraudulent Latvian ID to secure the venue. The mock wedding's total expenses are estimated to exceed €130,000 (£110,000), raising questions about the event's true intentions. Prosecutor Bladier noted that the British man is listed in the UK sex offender registry and is currently wanted for violating terms of his release.

As investigations proceed, authorities are exploring the motives behind this bizarre stunt. The implications of this case extend beyond legal ramifications, bringing to light serious concerns regarding the safety of minors and the responsibilities of event organizers. With the scrutiny of child protection laws in both France and the UK, this incident may prompt a reevaluation of regulations governing similar events in the future.