The mother of a footballer left with brain damage by a brutal assault in Crete has spoken of her relief after four men were convicted of attacking him following a retrial. 

Curtis Taylor, Sean Branton, Daniel Bell and Joseph Bruckland, who were found guilty three years ago of beating Robbie Hughes into a coma outside a nightclub in Malia in 2008, lost an appeal of the verdicts at a Greek court yesterday.

Former Croydon Athletic and Sutton United player Mr Hughes, now 34, barely survived being punched, kicked and slashed with a bottle by the four men and suffered permanent brain injuries in the attack.

He emerged from the coma two weeks after the June 2008 beating.

WEDNESDAY: Footballer's family return to Greece for retrial of men convicted of beating him into a coma

NOVEMBER 2014: Family of Robbie Hughes lodge formal complaint after Met Police officers start business with thug who attacked him

Taylor, Bell, and Branton, of Horley, Surrey, and Bruckland, of Hookwood, Surrey, were sentenced to four years in jail after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm in 2012. But they were released on bail pending the appeal.

Maggie Hughes, Robbie's mum, said following the retrial: "The appeal ruling is hugely welcome and ensures that Robbie’s attackers are held to account for the terrible attack that he suffered all those years ago.

"It has been an immensely difficult seven years not only supporting Robbie but also fighting for justice to be done."

She added: "This has been a long and drawn out process which has proved a distraction from our real focus: getting Robbie the help and support he needs to get the best from life.

"We will tirelessly continue the fight to ensure he is able to access vital professional support to aid his continuing recovery."

The four convicted men, all in their twenties, will now face a new sentencing hearing at a court in the Cretian city of Heraklion. 

Demetrius Danas, the family's lawyer at legal firm Irwin Mitchell, said: "The vicious assault that Robbie suffered in 2008 has had a huge effect on his life, leaving him with injuries which meant he could not recall the attack and was unable to recognise his family and friends.

"Robbie’s family, and in particular his mother, have fought tirelessly for many years.

The outcome of this appeal by the defendants is that the guilty verdict has been upheld, bringing to an end the criminal proceedings in this case."

Your Local Guardian: Benjamin Herdman, Curtis Taylor, Daniel Bell, Joseph Bruckland and Sean Branton face trial in Crete on November 20

Benjamin Herdman, left was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2012 but Taylor, Bell, Bruckland, and Banton were all found guilty

Mrs Hughes, of Wallington, last year formally complained to the Metropolitan Police after learning one of her son's attackers had gone into business with two serving officers.

Constables Leanne Henery and Glen Oliver were allowed by their Met bosses, which must sanction its employees' outside business interests, to set up Crossfit gym in Crawley.

Seven years of struggle: a timeline of the Hughes family's fight for justice

June 17, 2008 - Savage beating outside nightclub in Malia leaves Robbie, 27, fighting for life in hospital. 

Late June 2008 - Robbie emerges from coma but is left with permanent brain damage and struggles to remember friends and family.

August 2008 - Robbie's injuries leave him unable to start the football season with Bromley FC, which organises a charity match to support him.

September 2008 - The footballer's attackers are allegedly seen boasting about the brutal beating on Facebook.

September 2008 - Doctors give Robbie the green light to return to England. Before he leaves hospital, he proposes to his girlfriend of nine years at bedside. However, they later break up as he struggles to return to his normal life.

May 2009 - As the Greek police's investigation into Robbie's attack stalls, his mother Maggie and sister Alaina force the Government to look into his case.

July 2009 - Robbie defies doctors who told him he would never play again by returning to football at Bromley. He is only allowed to play on the condition he wears a protective headguard and accepts full responsibility for any head injuries inflicted. He later signs for Bromley club Cray Wanderers but his injuries eventually force him to quit football.

February 2010 - Five men accused of attacking Robbie are brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court to be extradited to Greece. They appeal against the extradition.

June 2010 - Robbie flies to Greece to thank doctors for saving his life.

June 2010 - The five men lose a High Court bid to block their extradition.

July 2010 - Robbie wins a call-up to play for the British Paralympic football team.

August 2010 - The five men appear for the first time at a Greek court, where they are bailed.

September 2010 - A sixth man, Joseph Bruckland, is extradited to Greece to face a GBH charge.

May 2011 - Maggie Hughes, who has been campaigning for the rights of victims of overseas crime, forces a revision to EU law in a major breakthrough.

March 2012 - A trial date of November 2012 is set for the men accused of Robbie's attack.

July 2012 - Robbie misses out on playing for the Paralympic team at the 2012 games in London.

November 23, 2012 - Curtis Taylor, Daniel Bell, Sean Branton and Joseph Bruckland are convicted of attacking Robbie following a three-day trial at a court in Heraklion. George Hollands and Benjamin Herdman are cleared. The four convicted men announce they will appeal the verdict.

November 2013 - The retrial is adjourned at the last minute after Robbie's family and witnesses have already flown out to Greece. Maggie Hughes brands the court "ridiculous". A new trial date is set for November 2014.

November 2014 - The retrial is again delayed - this time for 10 months - by a lawyers' strike in Greece.

November 2014 - Maggie Hughes formally complains to the Metropolitan Police after learning one of Robbie's attackers has set up a business with two serving officers.

October 2015 - Relief for the Hughes family as Robbie's attackers are again convicted of his brutal assault.