An internationally recognised human rights lawyer has published his memoirs to give an insight into some of his most high profile cases.

In his book titled Freeing the Innocent: From Bangkok Hilton to Guantanamo, which was released last month, Stephen Jakobi shares an account of his working to the cause of justice for foreigners.

His most prominent cases include the British nanny Louise Woodward, the Greek plane spotters, the football fan Garry Mann and the Manchester United Six.

Mr Jakobi, who recently turned 80, said: "One of the main messages of this book is that if you are privileged you have a duty to give back to society.

"If you are angry about something you have to look at yourself first before others and you might be able to change something."

Mr Jakobi, who lives in Richmond, became a human rights lawyer in his 50s after years practising criminal law.

It was working on the case of Karyn Smith, a British national who was accused of smuggling 30kg of heroin in Thailand, that inspired him to do more for fair justice.

He said: "She was not receiving proper legal support and I realised that ordinary people who were found abroad in similar situations did not know what to do, so I decided to help."

Mr Jakobi then established Fair Trials International in 1992 - then Fair Trials Abroad - an organisation that works for the respect of every person’s right to a fair trial.

But he said his work has not always been easy and there were challenged he had to overcome.

He said: "It is the good cases that allow you to carry on over the bad ones.

"There is an enormous pleasure in seeing the joy of a relative when someone is freed.

"When you see that happiness in people you can say ‘Yes, I got something right today’."