AN AUTHOR jailed for his involvement in a string of armed robberies has lost a crucial legal battle as he tried to prove the police framed him.

Crime writer Terry Smith, 57, of Point Road, Canvey, is serving a 12-year prison sentence after being found guilty at trial in 2010 of a string of offences - including being part of the shooting of a commuter at Rayleigh train station.

Smith, who insists he was framed, has this month failed in a court appeal to force Essex Police to release number plate recognition information he claims will prove his innocence.

The author insists one of the activities which led to his arrest, following a cash transit van, was actually research for a book he was writing.

On February 28, 2008, Smith was driving a Vauxhall Vectra which followed a van along the A127.

Smith and his passenger were stopped and arrested by police near Brentwood on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

At trial, Smith alleged the force tampered with evidence by changing the details of the van he was following.

He believes CCTV footage and number plate recognition data will support his version of events.

Essex Police refused Smith’s request to release the data and refused to confirm or deny whether it even still held the information - citing “data protection” reasons.

A tribunal in 2014 ruled the force’s decision was lawful, leading Smith to lodge an appeal which was heard by an upper tribunal judge.

In her judgement, Gwynneth Knowles QC said: “The submissions made by Mr Smith centre on his bluntly expressed belief that Essex Police have behaved wrongfully by ‘fitting him up.’

“I express no view on that allegation and nor am I in a position to make findings on it.

“I have come to the clear conclusion that this ground of appeal has no merit and accordingly I dismiss it.”

Smith was a career criminal who later became a successful writer and a consultant to Hollywood producers.

His 2010 conviction included armed robberies at Barclays branches in Basildon and Pitsea in 2007, which saw a combined £50,000 stolen.