Martin wants change in the law

Tony Martin is to push for a change in 'burglars' rights'

A Conservative MP is to meet jailed farmer Tony Martin to discuss a campaign to prevent burglars injured during break-ins claiming compensation.

Henry Bellingham, MP for Norfolk North West, is to visit Martin at Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on Friday to discuss ways in which pressure for a law change could be bought to bear.

Brendan Fearon, one of the burglars shot by Martin during a raid on the farmer's home in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, in 1999, is hoping to win about £15,000 in compensation.

Mr Bellingham said Mr Martin had requested the meeting.

He said: "He is planning to launch a campaign to get the law changed so that burglars cannot get legal aid to sue householders in these situations; I am going to help him do that.

Brendon Fearon intends to sue over his injuries

"I also feel that the Law Commission needs to look at the whole issue of what rights the householder has when protecting his property, because people seem to be confused.

"We need a new principle in English law which basically says the burglar leaves his rights at the gate of the property he is breaking into."

Mr Bellingham added: "These are issues that have been mentioned while Tony has been in prison but I think they will come much more into focus when he is released."

Martin was originally jailed for life after being convicted of murder in April 2000, but the Court of Appeal later reduced the conviction to manslaughter.

Martin, 58, is due to leave prison on 28 July, having served two-thirds of his five-year sentence for the manslaughter of Fearon's teenage accomplice.

The farmer shot dead 16-year-old Fred Barras and wounded Fearon in the thigh after the pair broke into Martin's isolated farmhouse.