'Unchivalrous' postie fined £100 for snap of ill woman

The woman had been drinking with friends in a bar at the Omni Centre when she began to feel unwell and went outside for air.

As she sat with her head between her legs, Sebastian Przygodzki walked up and took a photograph with his camera.

The woman, Rebecca Smith, became upset and her friends stopped Przygodzki and called police who seized the camera.

He was arrested and charged with breach of the peace, and yesterday pleaded guilty to the offence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Przygodzki, 28, who moved to Scotland two years ago from Krakow, told police he had spent the day taking photographs of performers at the Festival, which was in full swing at the time.

When he came across the woman, he considered it "taking a photo of another view of Edinburgh", said his lawyer, Andy Houston.

But Sheriff Kenneth Hogg said the matter "could be best described as exceptionally unchivalrous".

"The lady concerned was entitled to her privacy and not to have a passing stranger take a photograph," said the sheriff.

"I'm going to impose a fine to remind him chivalry is not dead and when somebody is in distress you leave them to it."

Fiscal depute Mhairi Vernon, prosecuting, said Ms Smith had become unwell in the Greenside Place bar at around 11.30pm on Friday, August 8.

"She went outside and sat on the steps to get some fresh air," said the fiscal.

"She had her head between her legs feeling dizzy and faint. She became aware of the accused appearing and he took a photograph using a flash on a camera.

"This agitated her, she was embarrassed and in a vulnerable state, and this was a shock to be flashed by the camera," she said.

Mr Houston said Przygodzki, a first offender who lives with his girlfriend and works as a postman, had enrolled in an arts and social sciences degree and was sorry for the "error of judgement".

"It was ill-judged, it was a spontaneous act and entirely inappropriate," said the solicitor.

"He accepts it was conduct liable to cause upset and did in fact cause upset.

"It's been a matter of severe regret for him. He's extremely anxious and very contrite about the affair.

"He's someone who clearly makes a meaningful contribution to our society," he added.

Addressing Przygodzki, of Albion Road, Edinburgh, Sheriff Hogg said: "The lady in question was in extremes, possibly due to her own fault, but you should have walked passed and ignored the situation.

"It is worse if it is a lady, but male or female makes no difference," the sheriff added.