A security worker from Huddersfield who suffered a vicious beating in France has been detained at an airport after one of his attackers claimed he had hurt his wrist in the assault.
Andrew Johnson, 50, was heading back to Britain from Algeria when he was stopped after changing planes at Marseilles Airport.
He was held by police for two hours and told a warrant had been issued as he had failed to turn up for a court case, which he knew nothing about.
He has now been advised to either go before a French court in January – where he could face up to a year’s suspended prison sentence – or never return to France, where his mother lives.
Mr Johnson, who grew up in Moldgreen, has lived and worked abroad for many years. He advises the police and other parties on road security, which includes vetting taxi drivers.
He was living in Marseilles when he was attacked at his home in 2010. At least three men tried to force their way in, and he fought back, shutting the door on them.
One of the attackers says he suffered a wrist injury when the door was closed and had to have eight days off work.
Two years ago the case against the attackers was dropped and Mr Johnson was also told he would face no action.
He moved with his wife to Monaco and thought the incident had been dropped.
The couple are planning to return to live in the Huddersfield area and when Mr Johnson was coming back to the UK after doing some work in Algeria, he was detained.
“I couldn’t understand what was happening,” he said. “The border police took one look at my passport and that was it.
“They said I hadn’t attended a court hearing, which I knew nothing about. Apparently a warrant had been issued for me.”
He spoke to Foreign Office officials, and was told the case brought by the attacker was similar to a ‘bank robber trying to prosecute after slipping and hurting himself as he left the bank.’
He was given the option of going to court or never returning to France, but his mother lives in Provence, and he has business interests in Monaco, which would mean changing planes at Nice Airport.
“I have no choice really, but my lawyer can represent me at the hearing in January and I’m hoping he can have the whole thing thrown out,” he said.
Mr Johnson suffered head, wrist and arm injuries in the attack which happened moments after he returned home from a sailing club.
He had a Taser in his apartment – which is legal in France – and when he turned it on the men backed off, and he closed the door on them.
