YORK MP Hugh Bayley plans to make representations to the Foreign Office over the case of plane spotter Andy Jenkins.

Andy, 32, of Acomb, York, was one of six British plane spotters who received a three-year prison sentence after being found guilty of spying at a Greek air force base.

Two Dutch spotters have also been handed the same sentences.

Mr Bayley said today he would be making representations once he had spoken to Andy's lawyer.

He said: "The Greek authorities may not understand or like plane spotting, but a prison sentence is wrong, and it would be a total waste of Greek tax payers' money."

Yorkshire and Humber Labour MEP David Bowe called the decision "a judgement lacking any common sense".

He added: "One cannot escape the conclusion that this was a case of the Greek authorities not wanting to lose face - and determined to make an example of this group."

At a chaotic court hearing in Kalamata yesterday, a further six British spotters were handed year-long sentences after being found guilty of aiding and abetting espionage following. Their sentences were immediately suspended.

Lawyers acting for the group announced members would appeal, and the court ruled they should be allowed home in the meantime.

The British plane spotters convicted of spying are: Paul Coppin, 45, from Mildenhall, Suffolk; Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York; Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London; Gary Fagin, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire; Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London; Graham Arnold, 38, of Ottershaw, Surrey.

Those found guilty of aiding and abetting are: Mr Coppin's wife, Lesley, 51, Michael Bursell, 47, of Swanland, near Hull; Michael Keane, 57, of Dartford, Kent; Steven Rush, 38, from Caterham, Surrey; Christopher Wilson, 46, from Gatwick, west Sussex; and Wayne Groves, 38, from Tamworth, Staffs.

The group seemed unable to take in the severity of the sentences and showed little emotion as a media circus broke out.

They were then led upstairs with their lawyers and a heavy police escort to sign their appeal documents.

In court, Paul Coppin, who organised the Greek trip, said: "I'm disgusted with the whole legal system, it's a shambles."

Updated: 09:46 Saturday, April 27, 2002