JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has urged India's High Court to hear new evidence.

Bleach, a former pupil of St Peter's School, York, who originally lived in Fylingthorpe, near Whitby, has spent seven years in a Calcutta prison for his part in an arms drop to West Bengal rebels.

He has now filed a petition with the country's High Court claiming he has found previously unheard evidence.

His legal representative, Deepak Prahladka, said: "He has discovered additional documentary evidence which has a profound and vital bearing upon this matter."

Bleach recently appeared before the court claiming that the Indian Government had been prejudiced against him, after it freed five Russians jailed with him.

They were released after intervention by their president.

But he said the new evidence was not available to present to the judge at that time.

Mr Prahladka said: "This documentary evidence was not available to him at the time of argument. Therefore, he was unable to submit before the court.

"He has requested the court to permit him to file such additional evidence for the proper adjudication of the matter."

Mr Prahladka has not disclosed what the additional evidence is.

Bleach has always admitted his part in the arms drop. But he claims it was done with the knowledge of the British Government, which was attempting to set up a "sting" operation to catch its organiser.

Earlier this week, the Evening Press reported that the British Government was making strong representations for Bleach's release.

He received his first visit by British High Commissioner Sir Rob Young, who said his visit was due to Bleach's ill health. He is being treated for TB and recently suffered from pneumonia.

Mr Prahladka said: "Sir Rob also said that Britain continues to seek Bleach's release on equal treatment (with the Russians) and his illness is an additional ground for immediate release."

Updated: 12:07 Friday, September 13, 2002