MP vows to help Africa prison man (From York Press)

Anne McIntosh MP vows to help Africa prison man David Simpson, of Gillamoor

9:46am Saturday 21st July 2012 in Ryedale news

AN MP says she is doing everything she can to help secure the release of a North Yorkshire pilot who has been held in an African jail since stumbling across victims of a massacre several months ago.

Anne McIntosh , Tory MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, is hoping to help free her constituent David Simpson, 24, of Gillamoor, near Kirkbymoorside, who was working for a hunting company in the Central African Republic when he found 13 mutilated bodies. He reported the find, but was then accused of the murders.

Ms McIntosh said she had been pressing Foreign Secretary William Hague, Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham and Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, for their assistance.

“I am doing my level best for David, as I would for any constituent in such vulnerable circumstances and our thoughts and prayers must be with him and his family,” she said.