JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has failed in his appeal for freedom - to the distress of his elderly mother.

Bleach, who has been in a Calcutta jail for eight years for his part in an arms drop to rebels in West Bengal, has had his appeal rejected.

His mother, Oceana, of Brompton-by-Sawdon, near Scarborough, is now waiting to hear if her son will take the appeal to a higher court.

"I think that is the only opening available to him," said Mrs Bleach, who is in her early 80s.

"I have always thought that if he was not successful in the Calcutta court, he would have to go to the Supreme Court in Delhi. I only hope he will be strong enough to do that."

Bleach, a former pupil at St Peter's School in York, is suffering from TB. He had been jailed with five Russians accused of waging war against India for their part in the drop, but they were freed after their President intervened.

Bleach's appeal claimed he was being discriminated against by the Indian authorities because he was not freed with them.

The judge has given permission for the appeal to be taken to a higher court but it has yet to be decided if that will happen.