A GROOM could miss his wedding after being sentenced to two months in prison while on his stag party in Slovakia.

Stephen Mallone, of Tenbury Wells, visited the Slovakian capital Bratislava with friends for a weekend of celebrations.

However, these soon turned into a nightmare when the 25-year-old was arrested following allegations of being drunk and disorderly.

According to unconfirmed reports in the Slovakian media, Mr Mallone was swimming nude in a fountain. The Foreign Office confirmed the charge of public nuisance but were unable to establish the precise conduct which led to his arrest.

He now faces two months in custody following accelerated proceedings at Bratislava District Court.

Mr Mallone, of Berrington Road, is due to marry former Tenbury carnival queen Kerry Stokes on Friday, June 15.

Pasquale Lamanno, spokesman for the British Foreign Office, said: "Mr Mallone was arrested on Saturday, May 26, following allegations of being drunk and disorderly and has been sentenced to two months in prison in Slovakia. An appeal has been lodged. However, we do not know how long that could take."

Mr Lamanno said a British Consulate representative in Bratislava had visited Mr Mallone to offer advice and support, although there was little the Foreign Office could do to free him.

"We cannot interfere with another country's legal proceedings," he said. "We can only offer more of a welfare service, providing advice and support for Mr Mallone and his family."

Leominster MP Bill Wiggin, whose constituency covers Tenbury Wells, said he had been contacted by Mr Mallone's parents and was doing "all he could" to help.

He said: "I have contacted the British Embassy to get help. I have also written to the British ambassador and tried to get the family legal help. Unfortunately there is not too much I can do.

"My concern is to support the family, find out what really happened, and then hope that we can get Mr Mallone back in time for his wedding."

Miss Stokes, who works at Tenbury Pharmacy, said she had been advised not to talk to the media because it could jeopardise her fiancé's case. She was due to hold her hen party at Butlin's this weekend.

However, a neighbour of the couple, who did not wish to be named, said: "It is a very sad thing to happen to anybody. I hope he will come out all right and I wish them the best."

Another person, who also wished to remain anonymous, added: "I feel very sorry for Kerry. I am sure she's mortified.

"It's supposed to be one day of your life and everything's supposed to be perfect. You see these lads all together on these stag weekends and they just don't think.

"I'm sure he wasn't thinking about his wedding and was probably having fun and didn't think it would go that far."

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