Prison hell ends (From Barry And District News)

Prison hell ends

TWO years of hell have ended for a Dinas Powys man who was dramatically released from a Saudi Arabian prison last week.

Former St Cyres pupil James Lee, 42, who was born and bred in Dinas Powys, was jailed along with six other Brits in August 2001 for the Riyadh car bombings committed in November 2000.

On Friday, August 8, he was released from his 12-year sentence after serving two years.

The men's families have always protested their innocence claiming the charges against them were trumped-up.

One of James' three sisters, Pauline Williams, of Raglan Close, Dinas Powys, told us she was overjoyed at the news of his release.

"My sisters and brother are ecstatic that he has been let out.

"We are a very close-knit family and even more so since my parents died.

"It was very difficult for us to keep going while he was so far away. Particularly when he was not here last Christmas because my husband and I nearly lost our son."

James was in Saudi Arabia making artificial limbs when he was arrested in connection with the bombings linked to a bootleg booze turf war.

Six Brits including James were seen on Saudi television confessing to the crime.

Two of the six, Sandy Mitchell and William Sampson, faced public beheadings after confessing to the bombings which killed British engineer Christopher Rodway in Riyadh in November 2000.

All six later withdrew their confessions. James' Manchester-based fiance, Gillian Barton, has been shocked about the stories he has been telling of his time there since his release.

She said: "He is telling horrific stories. I knew that he had been through a hell of a lot, just by looking at him."

Mrs Williams said: "James wants people to know that he wants the real killers to be caught for the victims of the bombings.

"He is such a kind person that he is concerned for the families who have been affected by this terrible crime."

Pauline says she doesn't know when the sisters will get to see James again.

"We haven't made any plans for the future yet.

We'll just see what James wants to do and whatever he decides we will go with that," she said.

In a joint statement the released men said: "We would like to thank everyone for all their support, especially our family and friends.

"We would also like to thank those in the media who campaigned for us and supported us.

"We hope everyone will understand we now need some space and time with our families."