BBC NEWS: Wednesday, 7 February 2007, 18:56 GMT 

original article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6340179.stm

Mr Robinson was jailed and fined for not having a visa

A Brighton woman has spoken about the ordeal of visiting her father in an Indian prison after he was jailed for 18 months for not having a visa.

Daniel Robinson, 38, is set to appeal against his sentence on Monday.

He has claimed he strayed into India last October while seeking medical help after becoming exhausted and emaciated while following a mountain tea route.

His 19-year-old daughter Justina said visiting him in jail was heartbreaking. The Foreign Office declined to comment.

In January a spokeswoman said Foreign Office officials were unable to interfere in the judicial process but had been in contact with Mr Robinson and his family.

After visiting her father, Ms Robinson said: "I was just in tears, completely heartbroken.

"I hadn't seen him in a year and I see him once, for 40 minutes in a horrible prison.

Justina Robinson said visiting her father was heartbreaking

"Seeing him was really upsetting."

International lawyer, Stephen Jakobi said: "There is barely room to lie down at night. It is horrific.

"Secondly, if it is hot weather time it is bloody hot and if it is cold weather time, you freeze.

"Thirdly, you're not fed properly. The conditions are that of a third-world prison."

Mr Robinson was following a 1,400-mile mountain tea route from south west China to the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.

When he crossed into northern India and arrived at a military camp, the London chef who lives in Cheltenham, was originally suspected of being a spy.

He was jailed in January and fined 25,000 rupees (£288) for illegally entering the country.