A 22-year-old has been extradited to Greece to face charges for an attack on a British holidaymaker.

Joseph Bruckland, of Hookwood, Surrey, was arrested in Athens on December 29, after he was summoned by Greek authorities through a European arrest warrant.

He is accused of carrying out a brutal attack on former Sutton United and Croydon Athletic footballer Robbie Hughes while on holiday in Malia in June 2008.

Mr Hughes, who is set to represent Great Britain in the Paralympic Games this summer, needed four life-saving operations after he was beaten in to a coma following the attack outside the Crete nightclub.

Mr Bruckland could now face trial within months. He is set to stand trial with five friends also accused of the attack.

Curtis Taylor, Daniel Bell, Sean Branton, all from Horley, Benjamin Herdman, from Worth, Sussex and George Hollands, from Reigate, in Surrey were extradited to Greece last year, but allowed back to the UK on bail pending Mr Bruckland's extradition.

The Greek authorities delayed issuing a European arrest warrant for Mr Bruckland, because he faced criminal proceedings in the UK.

Mr Bruckland was eventually found guilty at Hove Crown Court on October 13, of hitting rugby player George Heron, 18, in a fight.

After he escaped an immediate jail sentence, extradition proceedings were started again.

On Thursday, December 8, Westminster Magistrates Court gave permission for Joseph Bruckland to be extradited, and he was flown out of the UK on December 29.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the arrest of a British National in Athens on December 29 2011.

"We are providing consular assistance."

Mr Hughes, of Croydon, now suffers from a brain injury and severe memory loss because of the attack.

He has recently been training with Sutton United reserves, and is in the team GB football squad ahead of the Paralympic Games this summer.