Fears are growing for the health of a former Bingley farmer who has stopped eating properly in protest at his treatment in prison.

Seventy-seven-year-old Norman Scarth (pictured), who ran Ravenroyd stud farm at Bingley for more than 20 years, was convicted in 2001 of wounding with intent and jailed for six years.

Since then, reviews have been held at Sheffield Crown Court to look at whether the right sentence was imposed. A judge finally upheld the original sentence at a hearing in April this year.

Mr Scarth's brother Bill, of Leeds, said he was increasingly concerned about his health, particularly as some days he believed he was surviving on bread and water.

"I think if he's not out of prison in the next six months, he will come out in a coffin. He believes he is being denied things that he is entitled to by law. He has refused food before and now he is protesting about the fact that he is still in prison.

"In spirit he is OK but he has lost a lot of weight. He has lost about four stones since he first went to prison."

Mr Scarth said his brother was originally sent to Doncaster Prison and had recently spent three months at Newton Lodge in Wakefield while undergoing an assessment on the state of his mental health. He is now at Wolds Prison at South Cave, near Beverley.

His conviction relates to an incident in Leeds when Mr Scarth was evicted from a property he was living in. He had been allowed to live in the house by a friend who subsequently died. The house was left to a nephew who ended up taking eviction proceedings against him.

"I was there on the day he was evicted, as were about eight other people who supported him and who thought he shouldn't be evicted," said Bill.

He said he has written to the Home Secretary, Prison Ombudsman and Criminal Cases Review Commission to highlight his brother's case.

"I feel very frustrated by the system and so does my brother," said Bill.

Mr Eric Teasdale, of Thornfield Terrace, Wilsden, said he had known Mr Scarth for many years as they had both worked with horses.

"I am very concerned about him. I genuinely believe he is being victimised. He is a good man," he said.

A spokesman for Group 4 Security, which operates Wolds Prison, said Mr Scarth was eating some meals.

As with any prisoner who refused to eat at any mealtime, he was being monitored by prison staff and, because of his age, he was also being monitored by a doctor.

The prison had a complaints and appeal procedure which prisoners were entitled to use if they had any grievances, added the spokesman.