British ski instructor fined for working illegally in France
A British ski instructor who runs a chalet business in Megeve has been fined £24,000 by a court in the French Alps for working illegally in France.
Simon Butler, who operates two chalets in the luxury resort, was arrested in February for giving ski lessons to clients without a licence.
Yesterday’s fine was Butler’s fifth conviction on the same charge and the prosecutor had called for him to be given a jail sentence.
Butler, who has an International Ski Teacher Diploma, said he will appeal the fine and the case looks likely to go to the highest court in Europe.
His lawyer, Philippe Planes, is arguing that under EU freedom of movement laws he has the right to work in France with his British qualification.
However, the French successfully argued yesterday that to give ski lessons in France, instructors must pass the Eurotest, a timed high-speed slalom run, which was introduced after Butler qualified in Britain.
He has been running his ski company, Simon Butler Skiing, in Megeve for 32 years
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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