I can't take much more, says London student held in Greek prison

A LONDON student held in a notorious Greek jail over the death of an 18-year-old Briton says he is at breaking point.

Andrew Symeou, 21, from Enfield, is in an overcrowded prison condemned by human rights groups for its inhumane treatment of inmates. He is awaiting trial over the death of Jon Hiles from Cardiff who died after being felled by a single punch in a nightclub on the island of Zante.

Campaigners insist the case against Mr Symeou is based on mistaken identity, contradictory evidence and violent police intimidation of witnesses. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Symeou revealed the appalling conditions in the maximum-security Korydallos jail in Athens. "I've seen people beaten half to death, I've seen blood, I've heard people being raped at night," he said, adding: "I've been verbally threatened and I've had to deal with all this.

"It's so difficult waking up every day not knowing if this is the day I'll hear something. Seriously, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take." His plight is featured on the Inside Out current affairs show to be shown at 7.30pm on BBC1.

Mr Hiles, a talented roller hockey player, was punched while dancing in the Rescue nightclub in the resort of Laganas in July 2007.

Mr Symeou was in the resort with nine friends celebrating the end of A-levels but insists he was not at the club until several hours after the attack.

He told the BBC: "I am being treated as though I am guilty and that for me is the hardest thing. I did not kill Jonathan Hiles. I wasn't in the Rescue club until around 4am which was over three hours after the incident occurred."

Mr Symeou, who left Zante two days after the nightclub attack, was arrested in London 11 months later under the European Arrest Warrant system. He lost his battle against extradition last year. His parents Helen and Frank have moved to Athens and visit him twice a week. Frank tells the BBC: "I'm living in a bad dream and it's with us all the time."