A BRADFORD man serving a life sentence for murder has told the Telegraph & Argus how he hopes new evidence will free him after six years behind bars.

Anthony Davis, 34, has unearthed fresh information, through a private investigator, which he says proves his innocence in the Teddy Simpson murder case.

Davis, of Low Moor, was jailed in 2009 for a minimum of 35 years for his role in the murder of Mr Simpson, a 56-year-old businessman, who died after he was beaten and tortured at his home in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, in August 2007. The great-grandad's semi-naked body was found dumped in the grounds of a disused nursing home at Wyke, Bradford.

Five men, including Davis, were convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob and given life sentences. The gang hoped for a money and drugs haul in excess of £250,000.

Davis was said to have recruited the three men - Decosta Daniel, Errol Witter and Robert Cameron - who went into Mr Simpson's house to carry out the attack, and to have hatched the robbery plot with Johnny Daniels and Sonny Stewart, who turned supergrass and was given a reduced sentence after giving evidence for the prosecution.

Davis's case was referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in November 2011, after he lost an appeal at the Appeal Court, and the Commission is still considering evidence.

His legal team has provided new evidence, said to have been obtained from prosecution records, they claim casts doubt on the reliability of Stewart's evidence, which helped to convict Davis.

Speaking from prison, Davis said: "I have been protesting my innocence for eight years. I now have evidence, which the jury never saw, from my case papers, which proves what I have been saying."

The information includes footprints from a shoe, cell site phone evidence, an independent witness description and confessions.

Davis added: "I have been waiting for four years and I believe the Criminal Cases Review Commission is stalling. I have three Queen's Counsel who say my conviction should be quashed. The legal arguments need to be put before a judge. It's not just my word, this comes from prosecution papers."

His father, Patrick Davis, 56, said: "The new evidence is very striking and will clearly speak for itself. It corroborates what Anthony said at his arrest. We believe it was deliberately held back."

Mr Davis added: "It would mean everything to me if this evidence was to overturn Anthony's conviction and lead to his release. His kids would get their dad back and I would get my son back.

"But whatever happens we will be there for other people to help them better prepare their case. There are other people who are in prison who have been wrongly convicted."

Davis's solicitor, Birmingham-based Chaman Salhan, said: "We have presented the new evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and we hope they will refer the matter back to the Court of Appeal.

"Justice has not been done and Anthony Davis was given a life sentence for an offence he did not commit.

"There is clear and cohesive evidence which demonstrates that Mr Davis has been wrongly convicted, which amounts to a substantial miscarriage of justice."

A spokesman for the Criminal Cases Review Commission said the case had been allocated in July 2012, but the following year Mr Davis changed his solicitors who made fresh substantial submissions. He said the Commission decided, in November 2014, not to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, but gave Mr Davis the opportunity to make further submissions.

The spokesman said: "We have been in discussion almost weekly with Mr Davis and we are waiting to receive further information he wishes us to consider. We have agreed to give him time to provide that information"