TWO years ago yesterday, Ian Stillman was a free man. He was free to run his charity foundation in India with wife Sue, teaching deaf people the skills to live independently. He was free to spend time with his son Lennie and autistic daughter Anita, and talk to his parents Roy and Monica in York.

A day later, all that changed. As he returned from a business meeting, the police stopped his taxi and claimed they had found 20kg of cannabis in it.

At the time local officers were targeting foreign tourists, blaming them for the drugs trade. Although Ian had made India his home, and despite his protestations of innocence, he was arrested.

For nine months he was held in a cell awaiting trial. Conditions were basic. His bed was the concrete floor he shared with 25 other inmates.

Finally his case came before the judiciary. There was no credible evidence against Ian: family hopes were high that their nightmare was nearly over.

These were dashed in the cruellest possible way. After a court hearing described by the director of Fair Trials Abroad as the "worst miscarriage of justice I have dealt with", Ian was sentenced to ten years in prison.

All this would be a terrible strain on the fittest individual. But Ian is profoundly deaf and lost a leg in a road accident. His fragile health is failing due to inadequate medical care and prison conditions.

Two years on, the Evening Press will continue to campaign first for Ian's freedom, and then for the absurd conviction against him to be quashed. We are hugely grateful that this campaign has received massive support from readers, including a 5,000-signature petition which we delivered to the House of Commons.

Another petition - for a presidential pardon - has now been submitted to the Indian government. It must be hoped that this is looked on favourably.

Until Ian Stillman is freed and exonerated, his case will remain a travesty of natural justice.

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, August 28, 2002