Published: Tuesday, 30th December, 2008 1:00pm

Fresh Fears for Troon Minister

by Roisin McGroarty

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Gambian 'guilty' plea from troubled chaplain, 60

THE Troon chaplain arrested in Gambia over sedition now faces a year in jail after pleading guilty.

David Fulton apparently spent Christmas Day alone in solitary confinement in Gambia's high-security prison while his wife Fiona was held in another jail.

Now the couple are facing up to a year in jail or a heavy fine after they were arrested in late November.

Family and friends had revealed their fears for the chaplain who started a hunger strike in the African jail after being accused of writing letters to "excite disaffection" against the Gambian president.

His 86-year-old mother Jean, who lives in a sheltered housing complex in Troon, and his brother Gordon, 56, had previously called on the government to step in and help out.

Mr Fulton's brother Gordon had denied the claims on his brother, saying: "It is unimaginable that either David or Fiona would commit any such crimes. They are totally innocent."

David and Fiona had been working as Christian missionaries within the country's army for the last 12 years.