Brendon Fearon is seeking up to �100,000 from Tony Martin

Fearon, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, is seeking up to �100,000 compensation from Martin over the injuries he sustained.

Fearon, who was shot in the legs and groin while attempting to burgle Martin's Norfolk home, was filmed by The Sun newspaper walking briskly and cycling near his home.

On Tuesday, Martin's friend Malcolm Starr said the footage, taken over the past week, shows that the 33-year-old cannot be trusted.

But Fearon's solicitors, Bhatia Best, said on Tuesday evening that Fearon "continues to be advised that his claim has good prospects of success."

'Potty system'

Earlier, speaking outside his home in Emneth Hungate, Martin, 58, said: "I don't have any feeling whatsoever about the pictures.

"Fearon has been exposed many times before. We have a government and a system that allows this.

Fearon was secretly filmed by The Sun newspaper riding a bike

"He just wants what the system will allow him to do. It's called democracy.

"He says he's not too well. He says his sex life is not too good. Perhaps he should come and spend another night with me."

Mr Martin's mother, Hilary, said: "This demonstrates that it's a crazy thing anyway. It's the system - it's potty," she said."

Mr Starr, who ran a website in support of his friend, said Martin's view of Fearon and the civil case had been vindicated by the film.

"Tony has always thought that this man's claim was preposterous and this will only strengthen that view.

Early release

"Is anyone surprised anyway? How can you trust what this man says any more?

"How can you trust that the evidence he gave against Tony was fair?

Feeding the herd at his Norfolk farm

"They should throw it out immediately."

Martin was freed from jail last month after serving two-thirds of a five-year sentence for the manslaughter of 16-year-old Fred Barras.

The farmer shot the teenager and his fellow burglar Fearon after confronting them in his home at Emneth Hungate in August 1999.

Barras died after being shot in the back and Fearon escaped with wounds to his leg and groin.

Fearon's claim for legal aid could be in jeopardy if it emerges that he has misled the Legal Services Commission, the body that administrates funds for legal actions.

"If we determine that any individual has obtained legal aid by providing false or misleading information to the Legal Services Commission, it is very likely that their legal aid certificate will be revoked," said a spokesman.

"When a legal aid certificate is revoked the individual is regarded as never having been entitled to legal aid and becomes liable to reimburse the Legal Services Commission for any legal costs paid out of the legal aid fund."