A PENSIONER was freed from prison on Thursday after a London lawyer paid his council tax arrears.

Giovanni Di Stefano, who has represented Saddam Hussein, said he was ashamed for the United Kingdom that a 74-year-old pensioner had been imprisoned for a civil debt.

"It seems to me that Britain is returning to the days of Dickens and debtors' prisons," he said.

George Frost, 74, of Beaufoy Road, Dover, was jailed for 23 days on Monday for failing to pay £991.94 to Dover District Council. The arrears date back to 2001.

Mr Frost's family were unaware he was due in court and his daughter, Alexis McCann said the first she knew of it was when the court rang to tell her what had happened. The family said they were unable to pay such an amount.

Today, after hearing of Mr Frost's plight, Mr Stefano said: "I have today paid the £991.41 Council Tax for George Frost and he will be released from Elmley Prison immediately.

"I am ashamed for the United Kingdom that has legislation allowing a 74-year-old pensioner to be imprisoned for what is in effect a civil debt. The Government should be ashamed of themselves."

News that the arrears had been paid and that Mr Frost would be released was broken to the family by the Dover Mercury, part of the Kent Messenger Group.