A man who spent eight years behind bars for an armed robbery in which a woman security guard was shot at has been freed after a grandfather confessed to the crime.

Michael Holliday was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in October 1996 after pleading guilty to the robbery at Mirza Travel in Lumb Lane, Manningham, in February 1995.

Bradford Crown Court heard that he escaped with £15,000 after firing a handgun at the head of guard Robina Ryan. The bullet missed and embedded itself in a wall.

But in February this year grandad Derek Elener, 65, pleaded guilty to the robbery and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Elener also pleaded guilty to the murder of father-of-two Tasawar Hussain in January 2003 and he was later jailed for life, along with his son Barry, who was convicted of the murder of the 36-year-old have-a-go hero.

Mr Holliday, 44, claims he confessed to the robbery to police when he was high on drugs and then pleaded guilty on the advice of his barrister.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred Mr Holliday's conviction to the Court of Appeal and he was released from Full Sutton Prison on licence after serving his sentence.

Mr Holliday is not allowed to return to Bradford as a condition of his licence and is staying at a hostel in Carlisle, Cumbria.

He said: "I have not been given a date for the appeal but my solicitor has told me it will be some time in November. I am confident I will win it and I will be seeking compensation."

During his time in jail Mr Holliday served seven years as a Category A prisoner, nearly six of them in solitary confinement after a number of escape bids. He also took part in hunger strikes and rooftop protests to highlight his claims of innocence.

He said: "It's the worst thing in the world to be sent to prison for something you haven't done." While he has been in prison Mr Holliday, who admits to having a previous criminal record, says he has written two books and gained 38 qualifications.

He said: "I have changed my life around. I want to get the court case behind me and start to live again."

A spokesman for the Criminal Cases Review Commission confirmed they had referred Mr Holliday's robbery conviction back to the Court of Appeal.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We contacted the CCRC after we found evidence that the man who had originally admitted the Mirza Travel robbery may not be responsible, despite having pleaded guilty to the offence.

"Another man subsequently admitted to and was convicted of the offence. Any appeal issue would be a matter for the court."