Killer landlord Nicholas Hoogstraten has won the right to appeal against the freezing of his assets.

Hoogstraten is thought to have millions of pounds tied up in property but a court order, imposed as part of an ongoing legal battle with the family of his victim, prevents him operating his vast business empire.

His solicitors have now won the right to appeal against the order, meaning he may soon have access to his wealth once again.

The decision by the Court of Appeal Civil Division is another boost to Hoogstraten's campaign to clear his name, which follows an earlier decision to allow him to appeal against his conviction for the manslaughter of landlord Mohammed Sabir Raja.

Hoogstraten is serving ten years at Belmarsh Prison in London.

Since December last year, he has been facing monthly fines of £100,000 and weekly fines of £50,000 because he has refused to reveal the extent of his fortune to the High Court.

Judge Mr Justice Peter Smith deemed him to be in contempt of court and appointed a sequestrator to sell off his assets to pay fines, legal costs and damages to his victim's family.

Mr Raja was suing Hoogstraten for alleged property fraud when he was shot dead at his home in Surrey.

His family is continuing the battle to claim the cash.

Hoogstraten's lawyer, Giovanni di Stefano, said his assets should not have been frozen until the outcome of the criminal appeal was known.

News of the appeal comes as it is revealed Mr di Stefano is planning to buy a Second World War aircraft carrier to turn into a centre for 1,000 asylum seekers.

The London-based lawyer has asked Hoogstraten to support his plans because of his "business brain."

Mr di Stefano also plans to use the ship, formerly HMS Vengeance, as a prison barge. It would be moored off the Kent coast at Margate.

Mr Raja's family's legal team were unavailable for comment.