Sussex plane spotter Chris Wilson has won a legal battle for the return of his bail money from the Greek courts who put him behind bars for six weeks.

BT technical officer Mr Wilson, 47, has received a letter from his solicitor saying the authorities have agreed to return £9,500.

Mr Wilson, of Erica Way, Horsham, was one of 13 plane enthusiasts arrested on suspicion of spying at an air show in the southern Green town of Kalamata in November 2001.

After spending six weeks behind bars the group paid a total of £126,000 bail to go home before returning to Greece for their trial in April last year.

Mr Wilson, who was acquitted of espionage-related charges in November, said: "It's a huge relief but I'll be even happier when I actually get the money in my hands."

Mr Wilson said he found out about the decision last week and hoped to receive the £9,500 by the end of next week.

He said: "A close friend of mine put up the bail money for me because I didn't have that amount of cash at the time.

"When I got back home from jail I had to extend my mortgage to pay them back."

But he will still be left out of pocket as at least £8,000 is expected to go towards lawyers' fees.

He said: "I'll be a lot happier when my money's in my hand and hopefully I can get some closure on this incident."

Mr Wilson, who has been an aircraft fan for 35 years, said he had been abroad to practise his hobby since his acquittal but would not return to Greece.

He said: "They've had all the money they're going to get out of me. This whole thing has put me off going back. It's a shame because most of the Greeks are nice people."

Six Britons and two Dutchmen were originally given three-year jail sentences for spying. The other members of their party, including Mr Wilson, were convicted of aiding and abetting them and given one-year suspended sentences.

Their convictions were overturned on appeal - except for a twelfth Briton, Mick Keane, who is still considered guilty of aiding and abetting because he did not attend last year's appeal on health grounds.