'Crippled' Martin burglar caught exercising

The burglar who claims to be crippled after being shot by farmer Tony Martin has been seen cycling and walking effortlessly.

Brendon Fearon says he cannot work because of leg injuries he received during the burglary, in which his 16-year-old accomplice Fred Barras was killed by Martin, four years ago.

He is using legal aid to pursue a £100,000 claim against the 58-yearold farmer, saying he has lost the potential to earn a living. But the 33-year-old was spotted pedalling through streets near his home in Newark, Nottinghamshire, at high speed on a mountain bike. This is in stark contrast to the hobbling figure he cuts in front of the media.

The Sun described how he strode along streets, darted upstairs and walked a dog without any sign of difficulty. The photographer who took pictures of him said: "He showed no signs of awkwardness. He was pushing it along really quickly. Whatever his injuries were supposed to be, he wasn't showing any sign of them."

Fearon served 18 months for his part in the burglary. He has 35 convictions over 19 years - the last for heroin dealing. Martin was freed last month after serving two-thirds of his five-year sentence for Barras's manslaughter. The new evidence is to be handed to his lawyers who are fighting Fearon's claim.