Brendon Fearon was jailed for dealing heroin

Henry Bellingham, MP for North West Norfolk, labelled the move "extraordinary" and said it was a final insult to the farmer.

Brendon Fearon, 33, was shot by Martin while raiding his home in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk in August 1999.

He was released on Friday from Ranby jail in Nottinghamshire after serving less than a third of his 18-month sentence for drug dealing.

Martin is currently being guarded in a secret location after he was moved from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk and is expected to be freed on Monday.

Justice system

Mr Bellingham, who is Martin's MP, said: "I hope it's a coincidence but I have my suspicions it's the Home Office having one last dig at Tony Martin.

Martin wants to go home

"I think the Home Office hates Tony Martin and the prison service and probation service regard him with a great deal of unease."

He also said he believed the authorities were trying to make life as difficult for the farmer as possible.

"Fearon at the same time gets released at the first possible opportunity which is a kick in face for Tony Martin and makes a mockery of the British justice system," he added.

Safe house

He has been released early under the terms of the Home Detention Curfew scheme, which means he is electronically tagged and subject to a curfew for the next three-and-a-half months.

Fearon's accomplice, 16-year-old Fred Barras from Newark, Nottinghamshire, died after being shot by Martin in the 1999 raid.

Fearon is continuing efforts to gain around �15,000 compensation from Martin.

He says he cannot work because of a gunshot wound to his leg which he received during the break-in at Martin's home.

Martin, 56, was jailed for life after being found guilty of murder, but the conviction was reduced to manslaughter and the sentence to five years by the Court of Appeal in October 2001.

The farmer has vowed to return to his home in Emneth Hungate and added security measures are being installed in time for his return.