Mold man avoids Crete crash extradition

BBC — Paul Wright, 34, of Mold was on holiday in Malia, Crete, in 2003 when he says he was a passenger in a car belonging to a Greek barman which crashed.

He was arrested in March after being convicted in his absence by a Greek court of joyriding and criminal damage.

He has now won an extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Wright had faced either a £3,500 fine or a 15-month prison sentence in the country.

But Judge Mike Snow discharged him from the court, saying he was not satisfied the father-of-two had deliberately absented himself from the Greek proceedings.

He also criticised the “appalling” delay between the minor crash and officers turning up at Mr Wright’s door in north Wales more than a decade later.

“There has been no explanation for the delay of three years between the offending and his conviction, the further delay of three years before the European arrest warrant was issued or the further delay of six years before it was sent to the UK authorities.”

The prosecution has seven days in which to appeal against the decision.

Mr Wright was released on conditional bail pending a decision on appeal which will be heard next Tuesday at the same court.

Speaking outside court, Mr Wright said: “I’ve been through the depression, I’ve been through the shock, I’ve been through the anxiety, I’ve been through the stress, and now I’ve come out the other side and I’ve found a voice, and that voice has allowed me to speak up about it and get people involved, because it’s not just me it’s happening to.”