THe NEWPORT Greenpeace activist arrested by the Russian authorities after a protest against oil-drilling in the Arctic, has said he will stand in court to defend his actions.

Anthony Perrett, 32, from Newport, was arrested on hooliganism charges in September. He was released on bail on Friday after two months in jail.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, the former Caldicot town councillor, said: “As is the case with any Green Peace action, we always stand in court for our action and defend them so that’s what we intend to do here.

“We’ll wait for our day in court patiently and answer for the very spurious allegations against us. Obviously our actions were very much based around trying to save the Arctic.”

Mr Perrett was the first of six Britons to be released on bail. He told BBC Radio Wales: “I was very happy. It was nice to hear the guard come and open the little window to my cell and say - Mr Perrett, freedom.

“I felt fantastic. “

The activist admitted he was fortunate with his experience of detention. He said: “I was very lucky in that my cell mates, whilst convicted, they were very nice to me and we got on very well. We communicated as best we could. I had quite a good experience. I was very fortunate. It’s a monotonous daily routine. I was given some books which helped the days go by.”

“It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. It’s the uncertainty that really causes the fluctuation in emotion, but on the whole it’s an experience I’ll never forget."

Mr Perrett is expecting to hear more about court dates in the next couple of weeks.