THE man convicted of the infamous gangland murder that inspired the classic Michael Caine film Get Carter, has suffered a potentially fatal blow to his bid to clear his name.

Dennis Stafford, 73, who now lives in Stanhope Castle, County Durham, served 12 years of a life sentence for killing cash collector Angus Sibbett, in County Durham, in 1967, in what became known as the One Armed Bandit Murder.

Mr Sibbett was shot dead and his body was discovered in his Jaguar under a railway bridge at South Hetton.

Mr Stafford and Michael Luvaglio, now, 69, who was also convicted of the killing, have always protested their innocence.

Now the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has reached a "provisional view" not to refer the convictions to the Court of Appeal.

A commission spokesman said: "This has been a comprehensive review, encompassing a range of issues. Our job is to decide if there is new evidence or argument which gives rise to a 'real possibility' that the Court of Appeal would quash a conviction.

"We have reached a provisional view that there is not a 'real possibility' in this case."

The men have two months to make further representations to the commission, which will be considered before it makes a final decision on their application.

In 1968, Mr Stafford and Mr Luvaglio sought leave to appeal, but the application was dismissed.

In 1972, the Home Secretary referred the case to the Court of Appeal and their convictions were upheld the following year.

In 1974, the House of Lords considered the case and ruled that the convictions were safe.

Both men made separate applications to the commission in September 2004.

Last night, Mr Stafford vowed to fight on to clear his name and said he would be making a submission before the final decision.

He said: "It is a step we foresaw and they have made it now.

"I haven't come through 40 years of protesting to stop now.

"We will go right through the process.

"Evidence we haven't had made available to us will have to be made available now."

Mr Luvaglio, who earlier this year was taken to hospital in London after suffering a heart attack, could not be contacted for comment.