A JOURNALIST from Shebbear who was charged with piracy after a Greenpeace protest at an oil rig in Russia has returned to his old school Shebbear College to see old friends and share his experiences.

Freelance videographer Kieron Bryan, who now lives in London, has been the subject of worldwide media attention as he was one of five Britons held in Russia following arrests on the Greenpeace icebreaker Arctic Sunrise at an offshore drilling rig in September.

They had faced charges of hooliganism with the rest of the crew and were held in jail, first in the city of Murmansk and then St Petersburg.

Following months of campaigning by family, friends and members of the UK Government, Kieron was granted amnesty and returned to the UK on December 27, much to the relief of his parents Ann and Andy, who work at Shebbear College.

Kieron said: 'It's like a story that happened to someone else, it feels like a dream.

'I'm so thankful to everyone in Shebbear for the support they gave my parents'.

Kieron joined the school's sports trip to Barbados last year, during which he created a film which can now be seen on the extra curricular section of the college's website.

Many of the students know him from this trip, and during his visit they asked him lots of questions, with particular interest in the food, facilities and daily routine in a Russian detention centre.

Kieron also shared the story of how he proposed to his girlfriend Nancy in St Petersburg an hour after their reunion, and how they celebrated their engagement on Christmas Day in a restaurant in the city.

It is hoped that Kieron will return to the school in the near future to talk further about his ordeal.

All foreign crew members and activists aboard the Arctic Sunrise have now left Russia, including one other activist from Devon, Iain Rogers.