A CONMAN jailed for a multi-million pound fraud could help make legal history after winning the right to appeal against his conviction.

Lawyers for Darlington fraudster George Steen will ask appeal judges whether they can question jurors about their discussions on the case.

They claim the conduct of the female foreman of the jury casts doubt on his conviction. The juror, a few days after the case, sent prosecution barrister Richard Latham a bottle of champagne and a note asking: "What does a woman have to do to meet a man like you?"

Mr Latham immediately returned the bottle, telling her it would be wrong to take it, and also told trial judge Andrew Goyer.

Lawyers for Steen, of Geneva Road, want to find out how much influence the foreman had over other jury members.

English law deems it an offence to attempt to find out how a jury reaches its verdict.

But the House of Lords is considering whether the Court of Appeal should have the power to investigate what takes place in the jury room after a similar allegation of juror bias in another case.

Steen's solicitor, Peter Krivinskas, said: "We're hoping to take advantage of what would be quite a significant change in the law."

Lisa Brett, a spokeswoman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said: "The Lords have not as yet returned their decision as to whether the court should be able to investigate what occurs in the jury room. Until that decision is made I would be surprised if the Court of Appeal allowed counsel to question any of the jurors."

Steen, 55, was jailed for six years in June for his part in a scam in which businessmen were offered bogus loans.