THE driver of Britain's first mobile cinema has been sacked after it was discovered that he had been convicted of a sex offence against a young girl.
George Boyd, a father-of-two from Inverness, was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing, it was revealed yesterday.
His employers, Hi-Screen, were unaware of his conviction and acted before he took up his duties.
Mr Boyd, 38, was jailed for three months for the offence at Inverness Sheriff Court on September 30, 1996.
He had admitted using indecent practices and behaviour towards a 13-year-old girl at the car park of Kilvean Cemetery in Inverness on May 28, 1996, and in a car park the following day.
Details of the driver's past emerged after information from a member of the public.
Mr Boyd beat 300 other applicants for the job of driver and operator of the 100-seat Cinemamobile, which will travel across the North of Scotland, including the islands, showing hit American and British films in towns and villages that do not have a cinema.
The mobile auditorium was set up using #660,000 from the Scottish Arts Lottery Fund topped up by money from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Mr Boyd was employed by Hi-Screen six weeks ago and was still serving a probationary period along with another driver when he was dismissed.
Mr Boyd said yesterday: ''I have nothing to say about the matter. It is all in the past now.''
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