A British paedophile who "married" a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland has claimed he was "attacked in prison".
Jacky Jhaj, 40, claims prisoners at the Meaux-Chauconin facility have targeted him since his June arrest, according to his legal representative Etienne Arnaud.
The claims come as he awaits trial for orchestrating a sham wedding ceremony with a child.
The solicitor told a French court his client faced bullying and arson attacks, including burning his bedding, from other detainees who perceived him as wealthy.
Mr Arnaud said: "Because of the media coverage of this case, my client is seen as someone who has a lot of money, and he is under pressure."
The incident occurred when Mr Jhaj rented the Paris theme park after closing hours for what prosecutors allege was an illegal ceremony involving approximately 100 hired participants.
Theme park employees contacted authorities after observing the Ukrainian child dressed in bridal attire and elevated footwear, suspecting an unlawful child marriage was taking place.
French prosecutors charged Mr Jhaj with fraud, breach of trust, money laundering and identity theft following his detention in June.
A British paedophile who 'married' a nine-year-old girl at Disneyland claims he was 'attacked in prison'
|METROPOLITAN POLICE
Authorities allege he assumed the identity of a 22-year-old Latvian national and presented fraudulent documentation to pose as the groom during the event.
The elaborate production reportedly cost £113,400 to stage on June 21.
Mr Jhaj's legal team sought his release on judicial supervision with a £26,200 bail payment and passport surrender, but a liberty and detention judge dismissed the application on Thursday.
The court ordered his continued imprisonment for an additional four months whilst investigations proceed.
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The sham wedding had been planned to take place at Disneyland Paris | PA"This concerns my release. It's a very serious matter. We're talking about my life," Mr Jhaj told the court, according to Le Parisien.
British authorities are pursuing Mr Jhaj for breaching sex offender register requirements following prior convictions for child sexual offences.
Previous legal proceedings have characterised him as a "dangerous sexual predator".
His defence counsel maintains the Disneyland event was a film production rather than a wedding ceremony.
Mr Arnaud said: "My client was one of the actors. He was in no way the organiser. And he wasn't the one financing the filming."
Around 100 participants were hired
| GETTYMedical assessments determined the nine-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, had not experienced violence or coercion.
During his trial, it emerged that, in 2016, Mr Jhaj received a four-year sentence after conviction on four counts of sexual activity with two 15-year-old victims whilst masquerading as a film producer.
The then 29-year-old had falsely claimed to be 21 to groom the teenagers, having driven around Hounslow in a Range Rover collecting schoolchildren, supplying them with alcohol and transporting them to parties, a court heard.
In a statement following his arrest, the UK's Metropolitan Police said: "A 39-year-old man is wanted by the Met Police for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a breach of a Sex Offenders' Register notification requirement.
"We are aware the man has been arrested in France for other matters and officers are in contact with the French authorities."