Briton Charged Over Gay Sex in Ghana

A Briton has been remanded in custody in Ghana for having sex with another man, the Foreign Office confirmed yesterday. John Ross Macleod appeared at Accra circuit court on Monday charged with "unnatural carnal knowledge" and possession of obscene pictures. Gay sex is outlawed in the west African country but prosecution is not common.

The photographer was arrested at an airport when police searching him for drugs found a CD with images of him having sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old Ghanaian.

Mr Macleod, 63, has pleaded guilty to "unnatural carnal knowledge". He has been given the option of a six-month jail term or a fine of about £320, according to a Foreign Office spokesman. He was remanded in custody after he was unable to pay a £2,500 bail surety for the charge of possessing obscene images, which he denies.

It is thought Mr Macleod first met his partner, Emmanuel Adda, on the internet.

A police spokesman said: "During his [Mr Macleod's] stay in Ghana, Adda traveled round the country with Macleod, who took the opportunity to sodomize him and took pictures as well," he said.

The Foreign Office said the high commission in Accra was giving Mr Macleod consular support.

Court officials said it was the first sodomy case in Accra's courts this year.