Convict stops his hunger strike

Alden said he would rather die than be in prison

A charity worker who has been on hunger strike for six weeks in a South American jail has started eating again after an appeal from his son.

Craig Alden was convicted three years ago of abusing children at an orphanage he founded in Brazil.

The 36-year-old from Warboys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, suspended his protest after hearing pleas from his 10-year-old son John.

Mr Alden claims he is a victim of a miscarriage of justice.

11 year sentence

He was protesting at what he claims are the "failures" of the British government to fight for his rights

He has the support of pressure group Fair Trials Abroad.

Fair Trials Abroad said Mr Alden, who is married to a Brazilian woman, had not had a fair trial.

A spokeswoman said a state-appointed lawyer had not presented any defence and a judge had jailed Mr Alden despite hearing only prosecution evidence.

In 2002 he was jailed for 48 years - later reduced to 11 - for abusing children at the Abrigo Home orphanage.