AID worker John Boast was today facing the threat of a Romanian court increasing his 20-month suspended prison sentence for child smuggling.

The former Great Harwood businessman was found guilty of the charges by a judge in the town of Oradea yesterday after a lengthy court ordeal.

The outcome was reported in later editions of yesterday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Mr Boast, 47, was accused of being aware that a child was being taken out of the country and being involved in a child's illegal adoption.

The indications today were that the prosecution in the case will ask for the sentence to be increased.

Mr Boast was today back home in the village of Beius after vowing to continue his aid work in the country. He hopes to return to East Lancashire for a holiday later this week but those plans maybe affected by an appeal.

His solicitor, Corina Domocos, said today: "He is a free man and won't go to prison unless he commits any offences.

"But he did not do this and he won't do anything else. He is delighted, which is a normal reaction under the circumstances."

Mr Boast told family and friends about the verdict in a series of telephone calls.

His friend Steve Wood, of Rishton, said: "He said the prosecution have ten days in which to lodge an appeal against the sentence but he was hoping they wouldn't.

"John is over the moon about the fact he has not been sent to prison. The judge said John had done a lot of good work since he had been in Romania."

Mr Boast was first arrested in January 1996 and spent four months in Oradea's squalid jail as the charges against him were increased.

He faced a prison sentence of five years but he was released on bail last October and has always proclaimed that he is innocent of the charges.

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