Acquitted ex-soldier looks

WAR hero Nick Dunn hopes to be back in the North East within days, bringing an end to his four years of hell in India.

Former paratrooper Mr Dunn and five colleagues were part of an anti-piracy crew arrested in the Indian Ocean in 2013.

The so-called Chennai Six were accused of “importing guns for jihadists” and were jailed for five years by a court in India last year.

After a tireless campaign, the six men were acquitted last Monday.

Now Mr Dunn, from Ashington, Northumberland, is eagerly awaiting for the Indian authorities to give him the green light to return home.

Speaking from a hotel in India, he said: “I can’t wait after four years to come home to be with my family at the best time of the year.

“It is going to be the best thing and it has given my family the best Christmas present ever. I’m waiting for the paperwork but hope I’ll be back by Friday at the latest.”

Mr Dunn, 31, was forced to sleep on concrete floors and left in sweltering heat with inadequate water while trapped in the “hell hole” prison in Chennai.

Recalling the moment his conviction was quashed, he said: “One of the guys at the prison shouted we got full acquittal and said ‘it’s over, it’s over’. I was quite shocked initially but I had a feeling we would be acquitted.

“Then it was just madness. Last time it was seven to 10 days before we were released but one of the guys was told we needed to pack our bags and we were leaving, which was a shock.

“When we got out the day after I made the first phone call and called my sister who was on her way to the airport. She was so excited when she heard my voice.”

His sister, Lisa Dunn, broke down in tears when she was reunited with the Iraq and Afghanistan veteran at an Indian hotel.

“It was the first time that I have seen him as a free man and out of prison for