Eco activist Andy Pag has escaped a 10-year jail sentence for illegally carrying a satellite phone in India.

After three months of waiting for his trial, the relieved 35-year-old walked away from a court in Pushkar, northern India, with a 1,000 rupee fine (£14).

Mr Pag, who was campaigning against using fossil fuels by touring the world in a bus powered by chip fat, was arrested in January in the state of Rajasthan because he was carrying a satellite phone without permission.

The former Wimbledon resident, who set off on his trip from Wimbledon Common, spent a week in an Indian prison with a murderer for a cell mate before being released on bail.

He then had to anxiously wait for police to produce their charge sheet in court, hoping they would drop the terror charges. But the police kept on delaying Mr Pag's trial saying they needed more time to investigate.

In the past months, two other tourists caught with satellite phones escaped with a light fine within 24 hours of being arrested.

In desperation Mr Pag launched an internet campaign asking people to write to the police in charge of his case to get a trial date set. He generated over 2,000 letters of support.

He said: "I am really grateful to the support everyone has given me and to the Wimbledon Guardian for following my case from start to finish, it has made a big difference."

"I am trying to get my €600 bail money back but that might take a couple of weeks. I have a block on visa preventing me from leaving the country so I have to get the chief of police to write a letter for me so I can get the block lifted.”

Mr Pag has cancelled the rest of his tour because he spent €6,000 on legal fees and cannot afford to continue.

He said: "I am bitter about the whole thing. I think psychologically it will take me a while to get over it."