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Thursday, 10 October, 2002, 18:10 GMT 19:10 UK
Plane-spotter 'spies' invited to air show
The group of 12 British and two Dutch plane-spotters in the courthouse at Kalamata
The group during their trial
The 12 British plane-spotters convicted of spying charges in Greece are due to be special guests at an air show.

They have been invited to the autumn air show at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday.

The group, led by Paul Coppin, from Suffolk, were convicted at a trial in Kalamata earlier this year.

The Britons and two Dutchmen who accompanied them on the plane-spotting holiday were arrested at an airshow in southern Greece last November and accused of spying.

Lesley and Paul Coppin
Lesley and Paul Coppin could go to Duxford

Tracey Woods, marketing manager at the museum, said: "We thought we should invite some of them as it is the last major air display of the year.

"Therefore [it is] the last chance for all enthusiasts to see some of their favourites in action before the winter.

"Also, with its theme of spies and spying it was too much of a coincidence to resist."

Eight of the 14, two of whom were Dutch, were found guilty of espionage and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, but were allowed to return home pending their appeal later this year.

Suspended sentences

The remaining six were found guilty of aiding and abetting, and given one year suspended sentences.

The Britons found guilty of spying were: Mr Coppin, 45, from Mildenhall, Suffolk; Andrew Jenkins, 32, from York; Peter Norris, 52, of Uxbridge, west London; Gary Fagan, 30, from Kegworth, Leicestershire; Antoni Adamiak, 37, of London; Graham Arnold, 38, from 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, Staffordshire.


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