Burns victim: I want justice but I can't face going back to Greece (From Swindon Advertiser)

Burns victim: I want justice but I can't face going back to Greece

BURNS victim Stuart Feltham has claimed spiralling legal bills may prevent him seeing justice served.

Stuart Feltham

The 20-year-old was left with second degree burns to his chest after an incident in Malia, Crete, last Tuesday.

Marina Fanouraki, 26, has appeared in court charged with serious wounding in relation to the incident, in which it is alleged she threw a flammable liquid over the trainee plumber.

Stuart was due to give evidence against her, but left Crete on Sunday after feeling threatened by locals.

Yesterday it was revealed Miss Fanouraki had formally pressed charges against Stuart for attempted sexual assault, molestation and personal insults.

Stuart, of Sheerwold Close, Stratton, said: “I want to see justice served and don’t want the case to be dropped. But if legal costs become too high we may not be able to afford it. If I have to give evidence, then I will.

“But I don’t want to go back to that country. I felt threatened out there and would need protection.”

Stuart said his legal costs had already reached £2,000.

He said he was left distraught by reports in UK and Greek papers which alleged he exposed himself to Miss Fanouraki before she threw a shot of flaming sambuca over him.

Stuart – who denied the allegation – said: “I was really down for a few days.

“I didn’t know what to do. I thought Britain had turned against me as well as Greece. I thought everyone was against me but I am actually the victim.

“I am a good lad and go for a drink once every two weeks. I am not a boozer.”

Stuart told the Adver he only noticed Miss Fanouraki because she was dressed all in the white in the Electra hotel bar where he was staying.

He said he walked past her once but barely glanced at her and didn’t see her face.

Stuart said he was having a drink in the hotel bar during the last night of his two week holiday when flames suddenly engulfed him.

He said: “There were only six or eight people in the bar. I think she was the only woman. I didn’t stare at her as I’m not that type of person.

“It happened so fast but as I turned around I knew she threw it because I saw her white clothes.

“I think it may have been some type of flammable liquid, which they pour on the bar over there as a party trick. I remember seeing a bottle in her hand.

“Perhaps she was drunk and thought it would be a good joke. I don’t know what went through her head.”