A martial arts instructor has won the right to appeal against his conviction for murder.

Anthony Bottrill is currently serving life for the murder of Bryan Scott at Kirkleatham Showground, near Redcar.

The 44-year-old divorced father-of-one has won the support of his MP and human rights barrister Vera Baird QC.

Bottrill was convicted after the jury heard evidence that father-of-one Bryan Scott was a love rival and that the 17-stone martial arts black belt had previously threatened to kill him.

Mr Scott was found shot to death at Kirkleatham Showground in March 2000.

Yesterday Vera Baird and Redcar barrister Anthony Senior successfully applied for the right to appeal against the conviction in London's Court of Appeal.

They argued that Bottrill's conviction for the murder of cocaine dealer Mr Scott, who was 26, was unsafe.

They claim the conviction may be unsafe on the following grounds:

* A new witness has since come forward to say they saw Tony Bottrill in Redcar town centre when the murder took place.

*Death threat letters allegedly from Bottrill to another Redcar drugs dealer who was linked to Bryan Scott should have been examined by an independent handwriting expert and not just a Crown Prosecution Service analyst.

*It was not made clear to a jury that a stamp used to send one of the threatening letters containing Bottrill's DNA was detached from the envelope. It is alleged there was also another strain of DNA on the stamp.

*A mobile phone used by the murderer at the scene of the crime could not have been used by Bottrill. New records apparently show he was talking on another phone when the mobile was used earlier in the evening.

Vera Baird said: "We are extremely pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed to our application, which was made in writing by setting out all the grounds upon which Mr Senior and I think the conviction may be unsafe. A hearing date will be fixed in the New Year."

Bottrill's sister, Julie Bottrill, said: "This is great news. At last the truth of my brother's innocence will come out."

Bryan Scott's mother, Helen Watson, could not be contacted yesterday, but has consistently said that she believes Bottrill is guilty. Cleveland Police have also insisted that they conducted a thorough investigation. .