YORK plane spotter Andy Jenkins today received a three-year prison sentence on espionage charges in Greece.

He was among six British plane spotters to be found guilty of spying after being arrested at a Greek air force base.

Two Dutch spotters were also been handed the same sentences, but there had been confusion this afternoon over whether or not the sentences would be suspended.

Lawyers acting for the eight men immediately announced they would appeal, and the court ruled they should be allowed home in the meantime.

A further six British plane spotters were handed year-long jail sentences after being found guilty of aiding and abetting espionage following a chaotic court hearing in the Greek city of Kalamata. Their sentences were also immediately suspended.

Andy's sister Adele, of Bishopthorpe, reacted with shock and disbelief to news of the outcome of the trial.

She told the Evening Press: "I am just so upset, I can't talk about it. I don't even know what is happening."

The British plane spotters convicted of spying included: 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 were: 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.

Updated: 15:34 Friday, April 26, 2002