by Ross Lidbetter

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

Five men accused of attacking footballer Rob Hughes are to be extradited to stand trial in Greece.

Rob, 28, who lived in South Croydon before being attacked, was kicked, stamped on and bottled outside a nightclub while on holiday in Malia in June 2008.

Left in a coma he had to have two lifesaving operations to remove chunks of his skull and is still recovering.

Police arrested a group of men over the attack but allowed them to fly back to their homes in England.

This was because the attack was not officially reported within 48 hours.

But today (Tuesday), at Westminster Magistrates' Court, five men have been ordered back to Greece.

They are Curtis Taylor, 20, Daniel Bell, 21, and Sean Branton, 20, all from Horley, Surrey, Benjamin Herdman, 20, from Worth, West Sussex, and George Hollands, 22, from Reigate, Surrey, who are all accused of serious assault on Mr Hughes.

A sixth man, Joseph Bruckland, 20, of Hookwood, Surrey, faces a separate hearing at the same court on March 29.

Rob, who used to play for Croydon Athletic and Sutton United, has made a remarkable recovery but still suffers from severe memory loss.

*For more on this story see this week's Croydon Advertiser - in shops on Friday