Trucker to face Greek appeal court

Mr Wilson's case was taken up by Fair Trials Abroad

British lorry driver David Wilson who was jailed in Greece for trafficking in illegal immigrants has returned to the country to clear his name.

The 44-year-old Bradford HGV driver was sentenced after 19 Iraqi Kurds were found on his truck in March 2003, but released on bail in May.

Now Mr Wilson, of Wyke, is to face a Greek appeal court on Tuesday in a bid to clear his name and have both the conviction and sentenced quashed.

He had been "fast-tracked" through the Greek courts and sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined £47,000 the day after he was stopped by customs officers.

He was returning to Britain on 18 March when he was stopped by Greek customs officials in the port of Patras.

He was arrested and the 19 Iraqi Kurds detained.

Represented at the time by a local lawyer, the driver says his original defence at the summary trial was "completely inadequate".