KENT firefighter Garry Mann has lodged an appeal against his conviction for football rioting in Portugal.

The 46-year-old Faversham resident was jailed for two years after being found guilty of being a ringleader of the violence in the holiday resort of Albufeira.

The Birmingham City fan evaded prison because he was deported before being jailed and has now submitted appeal papers to the Tribunal Judicial Da Comarca De Albufeira within 15 days of his conviction, to comply with Portuguese law.

Mann is appealing on grounds of not being granted a fair trial and not being given enough time to consult properly with a lawyer.

He also claims he received poor quality interpretation in court and was not given sufficient time to gather evidence to support his defence.

Stephen Jackobi from Fair Trials Abroad, who is representing Mann, spoke to KM-fm...