THE mother of a Gwent man fined more than £2,000 for dropping his trousers in a Faliraki street says her son is relieved to be back in Britain.

And Julie May, from Newport, says her son was held in insanitary and overcrowded conditions in a Greek jail.

Matthew Maloney, 20, from Trevethin, Pontypool, flew home last week after being arrested at the Greek holiday resort of Faliraki, in Rhodes.

Last week he was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, or a 3,111 euro (£2,103) fine, for 'mooning' after an all-day drinking session with his friend, David Jenkins, a roofer, also from Pontypool.

Mr Maloney's mother flew out to Rhodes to make sure the fine was processed swiftly and ensure the prompt release of her son, who was being held in a cell with several other holidaymakers arrested in a bar after another incident.

She said: "It's a good job I did, because they added another 66 euros to the total for administrative costs.

"It's ludicrous - for the kind of offence he committed. He spent three nights in an overcrowded cell.

"It was not a nice place, they don't have the same standards there - a hole in the floor for a toilet and no washing facilities. His friend, David, took him food and water every day, which helped. It was absolutely ridiculous, a knee-jerk reaction to previous events.

"I don't think the picture is as bad as people who haven't been there seem to think.

"I stayed at a complex where there were other youngsters and it was very quiet. Of course you could hear music at night, but you expect that." And she said of her son: "He's just very relieved to be back."

Mr Maloney's arrest came as part of a Greek police crackdown on lewd and drunken behaviour by British tourists.

Jemma Gunning, from Frome, Somerset, was also arrested as part of the same police crackdown for stripping down to her panties in a Faliraki bar. The club rep was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment or a £1,800 fine. Her parents flew out and paid the fine after she spent one night in a cell.

The clampdown followed the death of Paddy Doran, 17, earlier this month, after a brawl at a Faliraki club.

And last week, British tourist Russell Anderson died of a suspected drug overdose at the resort.