JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has started treatment for a life-threatening illness.

The former pupil of St Peter's School, York, who lived at Fylingthorpe, near Whitby, has been in an Indian prison for more than six years for his part in dropping arms to rebels in West Bengal.

An appeal against his conviction was stopped last month after he contracted TB.

"His health is still giving cause for concern, but he is getting treatment," said former school friend Richard Stansfield, who lives in North Yorkshire.

"Apparently there is a lot of fake medicine in India, but the stuff he is getting is exactly what he is supposed to be having, and he is getting it when he should.

"Peter was worried that he might get the treatment one week and not the next. It's like antibiotics where, if the course is started, it has to be finished or it could do more harm than not taking it at all." A new appeal date will not be set until he is well enough to attend court.

He claims he has been discriminated against by India's President because five Russians who were convicted with him were pardoned after their President intervened.

Mr Stansfield said: "He needs to be fit and well enough to able to get into court, and at the moment he is not.

"The medication is having side effects, he is being sick and there has been some weight loss, but the main thing is he is being treated."

A spokeswoman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are very concerned about his health and his medical records have been referred to a medical panel in London.

"He is being properly treated for his condition."

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, April 25, 2002