A JAILED former Army officer is refusing treatment for TB in his Indian prison because he fears it could do him serious harm in the long term.

Peter Bleach, of Fylingthorpe, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, believes if the disease is not cleared up with a full course of treatment his body could become intolerant to the drugs.

Mr Bleach has been in jail for more than six years for his part in dropping arms and ammunition to rebels in West Bengal.

According to his friend Richard Stansfield, with whom he is in contact through email, Mr Bleach believes he caught TB from one of the five Russian pilots he was originally jailed with. He said the pilot had received treatment, but irregularly.

Mr Stansfield, who lives near Malton, North Yorkshire, said: "He is holding out for the proper medical treatment so he gets the full course to get it cleared up properly. He says he would rather take this risk than have a bad course of treatment which could kill him."

The Russian pilots were convicted on the same charges with Mr Bleach, but were released after being pardoned in a Presidential Order in July 2000.

An appeal against Mr Bleach's sentence was launched last month and Prime Minister Tony Blair has also taken up the case.

But his legal action has been put on hold since being diagnosed with TB, which destroys the lung tissue, and bronchial pneumonia.

Mr Bleach's cell is covered in thick, black mould, which he believes may have contributed to his lung problems.

He was visited by a doctor organised by the Deputy High Commission in Calcutta last Saturday and is awaiting test results.

He is hoping he will be issued with a full course of treatment.

At her home in Brompton-by-Sawdon, near Scarborough, his elderly mother, Oceana Bleach is anxiously waiting for news about her son.

She said yesterday: "I believe Peter is quite, quite ill.

"It has been established that he has bronchial pneumonia and TB and we are just waiting for further information.

"I'm most concerned about him getting good medical treatment. I feel quite desperate about it."