Property millionaire Ian Howie is to appeal against his conviction for plotting to kill a prostitute with whom he fell in love.

Howie, 48, of Davigdor Road, Hove, was jailed for six years in July this year at Lewes Crown Court after a nine-day trial.

He was found guilty of soliciting to murder Nicola Richardson, 32, a £500-a-time call girl, in August 2000.

Howie, a Brighton property landlord, had denied planning to have Miss Richardson killed.

He had showered her with gifts and flowers and bought her a house in Hastings, which she could run as a brothel.

When the relationship turned sour, the court was told, he hired a hitman to kill her.

The police were tipped off about his scheme and an undercover officer posed as a hitman.

The jury was told Howie offered to pay £5,000 for the murder and demanded her scarred thumb cut off as proof the job had been done.

Howie said the idea of the shooting came from an acquaintance of Miss Richardson and he went along with it because he thought it was a blackmail plot.

He said he did not take the shooting idea seriously.