Planespotter trial hears evidence

The twelve British planespotters accused of spying in Greece were today being confronted for the first time with the evidence against them.

The second day of the showcase trial was expected to begin with the testimonies of key prosecution witnesses - two Greek air force officers from the base near Kalamata, southern Greece, where the group were arrested in November.

The authorities allege the Britons "repeatedly committed" espionage by "intentionally and illegally" gathering secret information.

The 11 men and one woman were originally charged with planning to pass the information on to an enemy of Greece, which carried a maximum prison sentence-of 25 years. That was later reduced to a "misdemeanour" charge of espionage, alleging that they gathered the information but not suggesting they meant to give it to a foreign government.

Espionage carries a sentence of up to five years in jail or a hefty fine. All 12 deny the charge.

Their defence team will tell the court in Kalamata that the secret information they are accused of gathering is freely available in books and on the internet, and will call expert witnesses from the aviation and legal worlds.

One of the air bases they are alleged to have spied on even features as a backdrop to a popular Greek soap opera. The planespotters each spent £650 on the week-long trip and many have gone into debt since their arrest because of the bail money of more than £9,000 each and their legal bill, which has already topped £3,000 each.

The accused are: Paul Coppin, 45, and his wife Lesley, 51, of Mildenhall, Suffolk; Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge; Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London; Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York; Michael Bursell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull; Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford; Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham; Christopher Wilson, 46, from Gatwick; Graham Arnold, 38, from Ottershaw, Surrey; Gary Fagan, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire; and Wayne Groves, 38, from Tamworth, Staffs.