A CONVICTED rapist is challenging his conviction, claiming a member of the jury who sentenced him was biased.

Matthew Kennedy Roy Peters, 32, of Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, and formerly of Colne, was jailed for six and a half years at Burnley Crown Court in January last year, after being found guilty of rape and indecent assault against a schoolgirl.

Julian Knowles, for Peters, yesterday told London's Criminal Appeal Court the proposed appeal relates to a juror who had worked for and been sacked by the defence solicitors.

Lord Justice Rose, sitting with Mrs Justice Hallett and Mrs Justice Dodds, held a brief directions hearing into the proposed appeal.

Mr Knowles said a number of questions had been raised about the impartiality of the juror, who has since denied any wrong doing.

No date has been set for the hearing of the application to challenge the convictions, but Lord Justice Rose granted legal aid to enable solicitors to obtain a statement from Knowles in prison.

Peters, was found guilty of rape after a four-day trial. Judge Raymond Bennett ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

A nationwide hunt was launched after Peters went on the run after raping the girl. He was arrested seven months later in Bournemouth, where he was using a false name

He had denied the charges and told a jury at Burnley Crown Court he had been set up.

He said the allegations against him were a conspiracy because he was a criminal and a safe breaker.

The jury had been told how Peters' wife fled from a house after she caught him pinning the girl down and attacking her.