TODAY the full extent of Ian Stillman's suffering emerged. His wife believes he could die in jail unless he is released soon.

Mr Stillman is a strong man but he is growing weaker every day. He has overcome his deafness and the loss of a leg to lead an active and fulfilling life.

Leaving a comfortable British home to establish the Nambikkai Foundation for deaf Indian children was a massive challenge. Together Ian and Sue have made it work. Hundreds of young deaf people are able to live more independently thanks to their contribution.

But this remarkable couple have been forced apart. Sue struggles to run the foundation while looking after their autistic daughter in Madras.

Thousands of miles away Ian languishes in a squalid cell, convicted for a drugs offence in a case that Fair Trials Abroad has described as the worst miscarriage of justice it has come across.

It is a wretched existence. Ian sees his son Lennie once a week, but Sue can only visit every two or three months. He has two cooked meals a week.

All the while, his huge spiritual resources are being drained. Sue fears he cannot survive in jail for much longer. Yet the Indian legal system which has failed him at every stage looks set to do so again: a bail application may be postponed until after a two-month summer court recess.

Every signature on our Free Ian Stillman petition gives hope to Ian and Sue. It is the support of Evening Press readers, MPs, the Church and others that is keeping them going.

Now the British authorities must respond in kind. MP Sandra Gidley has slammed Government ministers for not pleading Ian's case while in India.

Everything is being done by Ian's supporters in Britain to get him out. Now we demand that the Foreign Office makes similar efforts in India. The Government must show more urgency - before it is too late.

Updated: 10:19 Wednesday, May 01, 2002