A GAY rights activist -- one of the Bolton Seven convicted after participating in a gay sex video -- has died.

Terry Connell's body was discovered on the floor of his living room at his home in Jedburgh Avenue, Heaton, on Sunday morning.

His death came just days after Mr Connell, 57, had been released from hospital following a heart attack.

And it means he will never know if an appeal he had lodged with the European Courts against a suspended nine-month prison sentence following the controversial Bolton Seven case, is successful.

It is understood his legal team is now looking to see if his appeal can continue even though he has died.

Bolton gay rights campaigner Allan Horsfall paid tribute to Mr Connell, who was targeted in a spate of vandalism attacks following the Bolton Crown Court case.

He added: "He was a remarkably courageous man in the face of some of the intimidation he had to face.

"There was a certain amount of harassment afterwards. His car was daubed with paint. He stood up well to it although at one point he did contemplate moving house.

"I got on very well with Terry and we maintained a friendship even after the court case had ended."

Mr Connell and his six co-defendants hit the headlines in 1998 when they were convicted of gross indecency after police seized a video which showed a gay sex party.

Under the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, gay sex is unlawful if more than two men are involved. The video tapes showed at least three men taking part in sexual acts, although all were willing participants.

Five of the men later had their sentences quashed, although Mr Connell lost his Court of Appeal fight and went on to fight his corner in the European Courts.

Now Mr Horsfall claims a government review could bring changes to the law under which Mr Connell was convicted.

He added: "I'm almost certain the law will be changed. There's a Home Office working party that will report in the next six weeks or so.

"If the law is changed it's because the prosecution was brought and received such national publicity."

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