Brit pole-dancers convicted of ‘degrading' Greek monument with raunchy on-cam display while hanging off hallowed palace
The racy shoot occurred outside the Old Palace of St. Michael and St. George in Corfu - a 200-year-old former royal residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Shocking footage shared by Greek media showed two women in raunchy red lingerie posing on a pole in front of fellow dancers.
Another clip captures a Brit in a black thong leotard being cheered on by a woman shouting: 'Yes Shelly, nice!'
The Brits were accused of violating archaeological law and degrading the surrounding area.
Now, two of the Brits who organised the photo shoot have been found guilty of degrading the cultural landscape of Corfu.
They were handed a six-month suspended prison sentence.
But Corfu's single-member misdemeanour court came to the conclusion that the five Brit women were innocent of the offence of violating Archaeological Law.
This is because there was no evidence that material damage was caused to the monument.
After the Brit women left the court, they thanked the Greek judiciary and apologised for the bizarre incident and the disruption they may have caused.
They added that they had no intention of offending the residents nor the culture of the island which they have loved for many years having visited Corfu multiple times, reportedly to take part in dance events.
Dozens of furious residents slammed the shoot after it went viral online, branding it 'disgraceful' – and accusing the performers of being British, local outlet Proto Thema reported.
Do you know who these pole dancers are? If so, please email annabel.bate@the-sun.co.uk
One person fumed: ' The Corfu Palaces: they once hosted royals. Now, pole dancing.
'If Lord Byron saw pole dancing at the Palaces, he would have returned to England without a second thought.'
Another commenter raged: 'Would they do the same at Buckingham [Palace]? Of course, here we have been the inferior in Europe for years on vacation and binge. [sic]'
According to local media, a pole dancing school in the UK was behind the ordeal.
The school organises a vacation with intensive pole dancing seminars in Corfu every year in the last two weeks of May, ANT1 reported.
The Palace and site of the risky photoshoot was commissioned by British Lord High Commissioner Sir Thomas Maitland in the early 19th century.
It is one of the best-preserved examples of Regency architecture outside the UK and now houses the Museum of Asian Art.
The Directorate of the Museum reportedly had no idea the shoot was happening, according to Protothema.
Outraged locals flooded Facebook with questions.
'Did the permanent residents of the historic centre and their association take a position for this event?' one asked.
'Who gave the permission slip?' demanded another.
'Someone should call the police,' a third added.
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