THE father of jailed charity worker Ian Stillman has been able to pay three visits to his son in his Indian prison.

Roy Stillman, 77, from Tadcaster Road, York, flew to Simla, in northern India, last month after hearing reports that Ian's health was declining alarmingly.

Ian, who has run a charity for the deaf in India for more than 25 years, is deaf himself and had a leg amputated following a car accident.

He was jailed last year after being accused of possessing cannabis, a charge he has always denied.

Brendan Bowles, a friend of the Stillmans, said: "Roy and Elspeth (Ian's sister) saw Ian three times I think. Ian was very pleased to see them.

"Ian looks thin but is still smiling. Elspeth was allowed to take a photo of him with Roy and Lennie (Ian's son).

They also arranged for him to go to the dentist to have a tooth removed."

He said medical checks had been carried out on Ian and reports were awaited.

Updated: 09:11 Wednesday, March 06, 2002