The mum of a man left brain damaged after an attack by a pack of thugs while on holiday says she has been left in the dark by the authorities.

Former Sutton United footballer Robbie Hughes was attacked by a gang of men while on holiday in the Greek resort of Malia in 2008.

The beating left him in a coma for two weeks and he still suffers from memory problems as a result.

Four men - Curtis Taylor, Sean Branton, Daniel Bell and Joseph Bruckland, all from Horley, Surrey - were found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm after a trial in Greece and sentenced to four in November last year after Mr Hughes and his mum fought a four year battle to get justice.

Your Local Guardian: Robbie Hughes during his coma

Robbie Hughes in a coma following the attack

Following the trial the four men announced they would be appealing the sentences but since then Mrs Hughes says she and her son have been kept in the dark over what is going on.

Mrs Hughes, from Wallington, said: "It looks like the appeal will be heard in November but I don't know where it will be, when it will be, whether it will be a full retrial or just an appeal hearing. We've not been told how any of this will work.

"The other thing is, we're still waiting any reimbursement We had to pay for all the witnesses to go over there and we still haven't got a penny back. I don't know what we'll do if we have to do it all again.

"But we just aren't getting told. The defendants have all the power but the victim has nothing. It shouldn't be this way."

Your Local Guardian: Joseph Bruckland (second from right) is one of six men accused of a brutal attack on semi-professional footballer Robbie Hughes while on holiday in Malia in June 2008.

Benjamin Herdman, left was cleared of any wrong doing but Taylor, Bell, Bruckland, and Banton were all found guilty.

Mrs Hughes fought for a change in European Law that meant the four men could be sent for trial in Greece. She is now campaigning for more rights for victims in European courts including the right to have a translator and the right to be kept informed of any developments.

She added: "It should be the same for both sides. Both sides should have an indication on how things are going to work. 

"To be told to go and ask your solicitor isn't enough because they have difficulty getting information out of the courts themselves."