THE Gwent holidaymaker almost jailed for baring his bottom in a Greek street was today travelling home with his mother.

Matthew Maloney, 20, from Trevethin, faced 12 months behind bars for 'mooning' in a street in the notorious party resort of Faliraki, Rhodes.

His mother, Julia May, travelled to the resort yesterday, where Matthew was holidaying with friends on a trip organised by Club 18-30, and paid the 3,000 euro (£2,103) fine for her son.

Last night Maloney and his friend, David Jenkins, 23, had checked out of the Konstantine Studios and Apartments where they were staying. A spokesman confirmed the pair had left, but refused to comment.

Meanwhile, at home, Maloney's aunt, Bernadette Maloney, from St Cadocs, Pontypool, said: "His punishment doesn't seem fair. It was just boys messing about. I feel sorry for him."

Maloney's arrest comes as part of a huge crackdown on drunkenness and rowdy behaviour in the Greek holiday resort.

A ban on organised pub crawls was launched last week after Peter Navarro, 21, of Wirral, Merseyside, was charged with killing a tourist.