Saudi 'bomber' vows to clear name

Bill Sampson spent 964 days in a Saudi prison

A man who claims he was tortured into confessing to a bombing campaign in Saudi Arabia, says he is determined to clear his name.

Bill Sampson, who lives in Penrith, Cumbria, faced the death penalty over bomb attacks in 2000 in which a man died and five people were injured.

Mr Sampson spent 964 days in jail before being released in August 2003.

He and three other Britons won their appeal against a High Court ruling that they could not claim damages in the UK.

Mr Sampson was in solitary confinement before being granted royal clemency along with six other Britons and a Belgian national.

The Court of Appeal ruling last month could mean Mr Sampson and the three other men could sue individuals but not the Saudi government, which denies the claims.

The process by which nation states deliberately abuse foreign nationals needs to be exposed Bill Sampson

A Briton was killed during the bombing campaign in 2000, which the Saudi government has publicly blamed on a "turf war" connected to expatriate alcohol dealers.

Others believed it was the work of Islamic militants.

Mr Sampson, a former management consultant in Saudi Arabia, is now living on state benefits in a one-bedroom flat in Penrith.

He told BBC News: "We have immense legal hurdles to get over before we can get back to court.

"I am doing this because it is the right thing to do. The process by which nation states deliberately abuse foreign nationals needs to be exposed.

'Convicted murderer'

"This has affected my whole life. I have applied for 40 jobs since I got back and been turned down for all of them.

"The material reason given for most of those rejections was the fact that I am a convicted murderer and terrorist."

Mr Sampson said he wanted to a see a UK inquest into the death of the Briton - Christopher Rodway - he was accused of killing.

He said he hoped a public hearing would show others were responsible for the murder.

Solicitor Geoffrey Bindman, who is acting for Mr Sampson and the three other convicted Britons, said his clients had been subjected to torture while accused of a murder they did not commit.

He said: "So far, the Saudi government has not accepted responsibility for the actions of their officials. It must now do so."