Conrad Black wants to get out of jail ahead of appeal

Conrad Black, the convicted fraud and former owner of the Daily Telegraph, has applied to be released from his Florida jail while he launches an appeal to the US Supreme Court against his conviction.

Black will have served 32 months of his six-and-a-half-year sentence when the appeal hearing begins towards the end of this year.

His lawyers have asked the original judge on the case, Amy St Eve in Chicago, to grant bail for the appeal hearing. She will hear his case on 10 July.

Black was found guilty of mail fraud for his role along with other executives in his Hollinger media empire of stealing $6.1 million (£3.7 million) from the company.

"When the Supreme Court hears this case, [Black] will be nearly 66 years old and - without bail pending appeal - will have served 32 months of his sentence," his lawyers said.