THE girlfriend of a North Yorkshire man facing the death penalty in India said today she was distraught at not being able to visit her partner of eight years.

Joanna Fletcher told The Evening Press that due to a number of "unfortunate circumstances" she has no money and cannot afford the flight that would take her to her boyfriend's side.

Peter Bleach, a former pupil of St Peter's School, York, formerly of Fylingthorpe, near Whitby, was arrested in December, 1995, after the plane he was piloting was alleged to have parachuted ammunition and weapons into West Bengal.

His trial, which has been adjourned several times over the last two years, is due to start again on March 2.

The 46-year-old is alleged to have been involved with an international smuggling ring and faces a total of 12 capital charges, including attempting to wage war on India, which carries the death penalty.

Speaking from her London home, Miss Fletcher, who lived with Mr Bleach for a number of years before his arrest, said: " I would love to be able to visit him, but I do not have a penny; I was involved in an accident which left me disabled, and mine and Peter's home was repossessed last year."

Miss Fletcher, who has not been able to speak to her boyfriend for more than two years, added that they write to each other regularly.

"Our letters are a great comfort to me. Peter is as well as can be expected under the circumstances."

She added: "I know the case has been on and off for the last two years and a new date isn't a guarantee it will go ahead, but if I could just get to India I'm sure I'd be able to do some good."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.