Model Agency Boss Banned Over Porn

A former entertainment and model agency owner living in NI has been banned for almost 10 years from running a similar business after being convicted of both taking indecent picture and of indecent assault on a young girl.

Glyn Davies, 52, has today been prohibited from running an employment agency in Northern Ireland until at least December 2020.

The case was heard at Belfast's Industrial Tribunal and follows a successful application by the Employment Agency Inspectorate (EAI), which is part of the Department for Employment and Learning.

The Tribunal heard how Davies, who is residing in the Portadown area, was convicted on 18 September 2009 at Edinburgh High Court of indecent assault against a 17-year-old girl and of taking pornographic photographs of her.

He was also convicted of offences arising out of the discovery of paedophiliac images and videos on his computers.

Davies was sentenced to a total of two years' imprisonment for these offences. Mr Davies was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and Disqualified from Working with Children List for indefinite periods.

Dr Stephen Farry, the Stormont Minister for the Department Employment and Learning (DEL), welcomed the Tribunal's decision: "The modelling and entertainment sector in Northern Ireland is an area where you will find young, vulnerable workers who are open to potential exploitation.

"The Department, however, through its Employment Agency Inspectorate, will continue to do everything in its power to ensure adequate protections are in place for such vulnerable workers," he said, on Monday.

Mr Davies had operated as an entertainment agency in Scotland for approximately 20 years and traded with his wife Susan Davies as Lothian Variety, and more recently as Emkay Lothian Entertainments.

The DEL's Employment Agency Inspectorate was made aware that Mr Davies had moved from Scotland to Northern Ireland and brought the prohibition proceedings to prevent Mr Davies from operating in his former profession to protect potential clients.

While the Tribunal accepted that Susan Davies - also residing in the Portadown area - was not involved in the conduct leading to Mr Davies' conviction and prohibition, it still made a separate prohibition order, with conditions, against Mrs Davies, for almost 10 years.

This order also prevents Mrs Davies from running an employment agency until December 2020, unless Mr Davies is prevented from having access to premises or contact with persons using an employing agency that Mrs Davies might operate.

This order was made to protect clients and prospective clients.

(BMcC/GK)