FOREIGN Office diplomats have been accused of attempting to "sabotage" efforts to free deaf charity worker Ian Stillman.

Officials made a behind-the-scenes attempt to replace a leading human rights lawyer, employed to fight Ian's case by his family, with the British Government's own representative, according to the human rights lawyer working with Ian's family.

The offer was refused after Ian's family discovered that the replacement was a trainee.

Stephen Jakobi, who runs the charity Fair Trials Abroad and supports Ian's family, said officials had wanted to put their own man in charge of the case to avoid embarrassing confrontations and ensure the smooth running of consular relations.

He said: "I have never heard of this happening before.

"Imagine if the Home Office went around to the houses of people awaiting trial here and said they had got a secret Government lawyer they might like to use instead of the civil liberties lawyer they already had."

Ian, whose parents live in Tadcaster Road, York, and who had a leg amputated after a road accident, moved to India 27 years ago and set up a charity which has helped more than 1,000 deaf people.

Last year he was sentenced to ten years in a north Indian prison after being convicted of possession of more than 20 kilograms of cannabis - which he has always denied.

Despite being profoundly deaf, he was offered no translation at his trial, effectively excluding him from it.

The Evening Press has already gathered more than 1,000 signatures supporting his case after launching a campaign to free him.

Fair Trials Abroad and Ian's family have employed Indian lawyer Indira Jaising to lead his case. She is the most prominent woman lawyer in the country and is known for her human rights work.

They hope to lodge an appeal with the country's Supreme Court.

Foreign Office Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "I am aware of (Mr Jakobi's) allegation that the Foreign Office interfered in his relationship with his client because it offered to put Mr Stillman in touch with a lawyer.

"I wish to point out that neither Mr Stillman nor his family informed our consular staff that Mr Jakobi had been formally instructed as Mr Stillman's lawyer in the UK.

"Indeed, Mr Stillman accepted our offer to put him in touch with a British lawyer panel in February.

"Ultimately, it is for Mr Stillman to choose which lawyer he would like to represent him."

The Evening Press petition can be signed at our offices in York and Malton, where copies can be collected. It can also be printed off from

www.thisisyork.co.uk.

Updated: 10:53 Saturday, April 13, 2002