ARMS smuggler Peter Bleach went before an Indian court today to plead for his release from a life sentence.
The former pupil of St Peter's School, York, who was not represented, told the Calcutta judges that he had been discriminated against because five Russians, who were convicted with him, had been pardoned.
Bleach, of Fylingdales, near Whitby, was jailed for life in February last year, along with five aircrew from Russia and Latvia, for dropping arms and ammunition in West Bengal.
The others were released from prison following a plea by Moscow for clemency.
But India ignored similar requests made by the British government on behalf of Bleach.
The case was adjourned until October 5.
Meanwhile, the appeal of a deaf British charity worker jailed in India for possession of cannabis will be heard tomorrow.
Ian Stillman, 50, whose parents live in Dringhouses, York, was jailed for ten years in June.
Updated: 14:22 Monday, September 24, 2001
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