The Case

The claimant's application for the judicial review of a decision of the Parole Board, refusing him parole, was dismissed as the board had been entitled to refuse the claimant parole having considered the facts in favour of release, including his considerable progress, completing educational, vocational and offender orientated courses, being employed in positions of trust and by becoming involved in the smooth running of the prison by acting as a wing and race relations representative, with the factors against release, namely the claimant's serious and repeated prior offending. Further, an earlier parole decision that indicated that his further progression in open prison conditions would be taken into account could not found a legitimate expectation that he would be released upon a further application for parole.