A FORMER retained firefighter convicted of raping a schoolboy at Christchurch Fire Station is due to appeal his conviction based on “new evidence”.

David Bryant was sentenced to six years in prison in January last year after he was found guilty of raping a teenager almost 40 years previously.

During his trial, held at Bournemouth Crown Court, the jury was told Bryant, who was then aged 26, and a fellow retained firefighter, Dennis Goodman, who is now deceased, had befriended the victim and invited him to play darts with them at the station on three occasions during the 1970s.

The court was told on the third occasion, the victim, who was then aged around 14, was held down over a table by the pair, one of whom said “you’ll like this”.

The prosecution said they then took it in turns to rape him while having sex with each other.

Just over one year into his sentence, Bryant’s legal team have applied to appeal the conviction in light of fresh evidence.

His wife Lynn Bryant said her husband has always maintained he is innocent.

“He is innocent so he will try anything to prove that,” she said.

The 52-year-old said the last year has been a tough time for the family and she was hopeful the conviction will be overturned at the Court of Appeal.

She said: “It’s been very difficult but we have had amazing support because everybody knows that my husband is innocent.”

Mark Hensleigh, of Preston Redman solicitors, which is representing Mr Bryant, said the appeal will be based upon new evidence.