Hounslow: An Isleworth man is among 12 Britons facing spy charges and a potential 20-year jail sentence in Greece after being arrested during a plane-spotting trip.

Antoni Adamiak, 36, of Church Road was on a Touchdown Tours trip to various airfields and a visit to a Farnborough-style airshow when the party was detained for taking photographs in a restricted area. This was later changed to the more serious charge of spying and the 12 were imprisoned.

They appeared before an investigating magistrate in a Kalamata court on Tuesday and will remain imprisoned until the case goes before a higher court. As the Guardian went to press they faced at least seven more days behind bars.

Mr Adamiak's sister, Anna Skinner, speaking exclusively to the Guardian from her home in Epping, said: "It was just bizarre. It was to the point that it was funny because I just couldn't believe it could be true.

"We presumed they would be released immediately because it was just a misunderstanding. I think we felt it was a cultural misunderstanding because you don't have many people who plane spot in that way in Greece.

"We just presumed the case would be dismissed and they would be released, but each time we came to a date when we presumed they would be released things became more serious."

British diplomats understand the group had a written invitation to attend the air show, but one which would have included a strict no-photography clause.

The group has denied taking any photographs and say they were using only binoculars.

"We understand they have been charged with espionage but they haven't had the charges read to them in court. They will have the charges read to them or be dismissed," Mrs Skinner said.

Mr Adamiak has spoken to relatives since his arrest on Thursday, November 8.

Mrs Skinner said: "It was a big shock when they were moved to the prison. They had to be processed and strip-searched, and obviously there was some concern about the conditions."

Mr Adamiak has also been in contact with his 15-year-old daughter. "We were able to phone him and she sent him some text messages to try and keep him cheerful, but once they are in the prison system we can no longer contact him," Mrs Skinner said.

"We just want him home. It's just a situation which seems to have spiralled out of control. What we hope is that it's a misunderstanding that can be sorted out before it gets more bizarre."

Euro-MP Richard Howitt, who visited Mrs Skinner on Friday, secured individual legal support for Mr Adamiak.

November 30, 2001 15:30