I'm not saying he should have shot someone dead....but he felt persecuted by us and we should not have been there

IT is 26 years since the raid at Bleak House farm that left a teen burglar dead, another wounded and Tony Martin jailed, in a case that shook up self-defence laws.

- DAN WARBURTON and TRACEY KANDOHLA

And former crook Brendan Fearon has spoken for the first time since 2005 about being shot in the legs saying he bears no malice to the farmer who caused his lifelong injuries and killed accomplice Fred Barras, 16.

The 54-year-old also revealed he was sad to hear that Martin passed away at the age of 80 last Sunday.

Brendan told how the grim outcome of that night in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, initially did nothing to deter him from a life of crime. But he insisted he has become a reformed character who dotes on his family.

Martin was convicted of murder, which sparked a nationwide debate about the law on self-defence.

Brendan, who is still in terrible pain from the wounds to both his legs with a gaping hole in one - said of his death: "I feel for him and his family. Life's not been kind to me but it was much crueller to little Fred, who lost his life, and his family.

"But I have never felt any bitterness or animosity towards that farmer. He did what he had to do to protect himself and his home.

"I'm not saying he should have shot someone dead, that's wrong, but he felt persecuted by us and we shouldn't have been there. His place had been robbed 10 times before and it was an easy target. I have no anger."

Brendan was told Martin had died by someone who said it was "the best thing for him". But he added: "I didn't feel that. He's got family and friends mourning his loss.

"If we'd never gone to his place he wouldn't have committed any crime, there would have been no shootings and no killing. He wasn't the only one to blame. He lived to a good old age, it's sad he's gone but it's the end of a chapter."