A Sussex plane spotter convicted on a spying-related charge in Greece was today hoping to begin his legal appeal.

BT technical officer Chris Wilson, 47, flew out on Saturday to join ten of the other 11 plane spotters in court for the hearing, which was delayed until 4pm today.

Mr Wilson, of Erica Way, Horsham, was preparing to gamble his one-year suspended sentence to clear his name.

Under Greek law, if he fails he could face a tougher jail term of up to five years behind bars.

Six of the spotters were convicted of espionage and given three-year jail sentences. Mr Wilson and five others were convicted of aiding and abetting and received one-year suspended sentence in April this year.

Today the spotters' names appeared on lists outside the courtroom in Kalamata, southern Greece, but their lawyers went before three judges for less than two minutes before they were told the case would not be heard for at least another eight hours.

The lawyers hope the prosecution case could be heard tonight, with the court sitting as late as midnight local time.

Under Greek law the appeal amounts to a retrial, hearing all the previous evidence again plus any new evidence or witnesses.

The group said they were confident they would not be forced to serve out prison sentences, even if the court imposed hefty fines.

In Greece, it is possible to buy off a sentence of anything up to two years by "converting" that sentence into a fine, the equivalent of just under ten euros a day or £4,300 for two years.

But many of the group remain adamant that they can clear their names and would refuse such an offer, preferring to take their case on to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights should this appeal fail.

The 12 Britons and two Dutchmen were arrested almost exactly a year ago and spent more than six weeks in police cells or prison until they were eventually released on bail of around £9,000 each.

Their case sparked international outrage.

All admitted visiting a series of air bases, and many said they had taken notes, but all deny spying and insist they were simply pursuing their hobby.