FREED arms dealer Peter Bleach was today back in North Yorkshire after more than eight years in an Indian jail - and immediately thanked the region's residents for their support.

Bleach, a former pupil of St Peter's School in York, was met at Heathrow Airport by former girlfriend Jo Fletcher and other friends.

He vowed to continue his fight to clear his name, saying he was an innocent man and planned to take his case to the Indian Supreme Court.

The 52-year-old, from Fylingthorpe, near Whitby, said: "I'm not guilty, I've never, ever conspired against India and in the end I will prove that."

He claimed his arrest resulted from a misunderstanding, saying: "It came about by the fact that I was a legitimate dealer in defence equipment when somebody approached me for an illegitimate deal.

"I notified the British authorities and the British authorities asked me to run with them. Somehow, the Indian government didn't intercept the consignment."

He said it felt "marvellous" to be free. "I am really looking forward to getting back to Yorkshire.

"I thank the people of York and North Yorkshire for their support and do not intend to leave that wonderful county for a long time."

Keeping his sense of humour despite his ordeal, Bleach said he was looking forward to a good meal and also joked he would like some "sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll".

But he said: "I'm too old for the sex, can't afford the drugs, and my bad back will put a stop to any rock'n'roll!"

Bleach was arrested with five Latvians in December 1995 after a huge consignment of weapons was parachuted into a district in Eastern India.

Police said the airdrop was destined for the rebel group Anand Marg - which means path of bliss.

The six were convicted in 2000 of waging war on India, but the Latvians were freed within months following the intervention of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bleach thanked the Indian authorities, Jack Straw, Tony Blair and Southend MP Sir Teddy Taylor for their work to secure his release.

He said he was considering writing his memoirs. "It has been a very hard eight years. The fact that I am back hasn't really sunk in yet," he said.

Jo said she was going to drive Bleach straight to North Yorkshire to reunite him with his mother, Oceana, near Scarborough.

She said: "She is 83, she's incredibly frail and she's in a great emotional state. We managed to persuade her that it was best for us to meet him and bring him up to her. We are going straight off.

"Peter's return is long overdue. He should never have been arrested in the first place."

Updated: 09:44 Saturday, February 07, 2004