MP Nicholas Soames has complained to Home Secretary Jack Straw over the delay in bringing five Sussex Police officers to trial over a fatal shooting.

A trial date at the Old Bailey has been fixed for next February, more than three years after unarmed James Ashley was shot dead during a police raid on his Hastings home.

The delay has also held up the possible return to duty of £80,000-a-year Deputy Chief Constable Mark Jordan, who was suspended in February last year over his role in the operation.

Mr Soames, MP for Mid Sussex, said the delay was "disgraceful" and a denial of natural justice for the deputy.

He said: "It has cast a shadow over the way justice is dealt with.

"These cases are complicated but it is completely wrong that someone like Jordan should be denied early justice. This is really shabby and proves the adage 'justice delayed is justice denied'." Mr Jordan, 42, was suspended by the Sussex Police Authority after accusations that he authorised the release of firearms for the Hastings operation when there was insufficient evidence, a charge he strongly denies.

His case will be heard by an independent tribunal but only when all criminal charges against the other officers have been dealt with.

The Old Bailey trial is due to start on February 19 and is scheduled to last three months.

His solicitor, Peter Williams, said the delay has been "very difficult" for Mr Jordan, who is married with three young children, saying: "This man's enormous energy and enthusiasm has been wasted."

The Crown Prosecution Service today said: "We offered a trial date in October but the defence said they were not available until next February."

James Ashley, 39, was naked in bed when he was shot dead in January 1998 at his flat in St Leonards.

Sussex Police marksman PC Chris Sherwood, 32, is accused of murder and four others are charged with misfeasance.

They are Supt Chris Burton, 42, Acting Det Insp Kevin French, 47, Det Insp Chris Siggs, 41, and PC Robert Shoesmith, 38.