A CHARITY worker is fighting extradition to Albania over the alleged rape of young orphans.

Dino Christodoulou, from Blackburn, and fellow defendant Robin Arnold, 55, of Norfolk, claim they should not be extradited because of poor prison conditions.

And Christodoulou, who describes himself as a born-again Christian, has threatened to go on hunger strike if he loses his legal fight, which started yesterday.

Christodoulou and Arnold were helpers at the His Children' refuge in Tirana, Albania, where it is alleged they raped and sexually abused six victims aged between six and 13 in 2004.

A third man, David Brown, 56, of Edinburgh, who is said to have set up the home, is in Albania awaiting trial on child sex charges.

Christodoulou wrote a letter to the Lancashire Telegraph protesting his innocence from his prison cell at Wandsworth Prison before the start of yesterday's hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.

He described feeling as though he was on death row.' Christodoulou, who has worked for good causes including a Mill Hill charity shop, was arrested in Blackburn last month.

But friends started a Justice for Dino' campaign after claiming he was set up. Supporters include senior church figures.

In his letter, Christodoulou said: "I have contested the request from the Albanian government to go over for a show trial'.

"I will go on hunger strike if forced to do so. Albanian law is corrupt and fails all conditions on human rights. The hospitals and prisons are violent and degrading.

"As a Christian I would be treated extremely bad. Let's hope the evidence against me will show I've spoken the truth and I'm found innocent."

Clair Dobbin, for the Albanian authorities, told the court: "Both men are accused of sexually abusing children in their care at the same orphanage in Tirana, Albania."

The country's authorities hope to try all three men together.

After receiving extra evidence, Ms Dobbin was due to open the case. But District Judge Caroline Tubbs said the opening should take place at a full hearing.

Ben Cooper, Christodoulou's barrister, said he would be raising human rights bars to extradition, centring around 'below standard' prisons, and fair trial issues'.

There was no bail application and Judge Tubbs remanded both men in custody for a full-day extradition hearing in December.

They are next due to appear at the same court for a short videolink remand hearing on November 22.