YORK air enthusiast Andy Jenkins is to take up his case with the country's top politicians, he told the Evening Press today.

Andy has put his life back on a secure footing since being found guilty of espionage by a Greek court, last month.

But he said he was still determined to fight to prove his innocence and was hoping to meet Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

He is also pinning his hopes on securing a House of Commons debate about the "unfair trial" which could yet see him jailed.

Andy, of Barkston Avenue, was convicted of spying at a Greek air base after a trial last month.

He, along with five other Britons, was sentenced to three years in jail.

Six other Britons were handed a one-year suspended sentence after being convicted of aiding and abetting.

But Andy, and his "plane spotter" colleagues, launched an immediate appeal and all were allowed to return to Britain, pending the appeal.

The 32-year-old said he was in no rush to return to Greece in the very near future, because he can expect to be slapped with another £5,000 bill for legal charges.

It has been estimated that the saga has already cost Andy, and the rest of the British plane spotters, about £17,000 each.

He said: "We will hopefully be meeting with the foreign secretary and want to keep our case in the mind of people in officialdom.

"We can only make representations to the Government to get a fair trial. We didn't get a fair trial really.

"I thought our defence case was good, we haven't broken any laws and military law didn't really apply to us.

"If we can have some meetings with our elected leaders, as a group, then I would be keen. We are in a ridiculous situation."

Andy added: "I personally do not want a quick appeal hearing - in the next six months - on a financial level.

"It would cost another £5,000. Hopefully we can secure a debate in the House of Commons about our plight."

Updated: 11:21 Friday, May 10, 2002