Kevan Thakrar's initial human rights bid fails

A triple killer has failed in his initial bid to sue the Prison Service on the grounds that its policy is unlawful and breaches his human rights.

Kevan Thakrar, 24, who is serving three life sentences, is suing under the European Convention on Human Rights.

He claims his rights were breached over policies involving his correspondence with lawyers, telephone use and prison visits with his legal team.

But a judge at Manchester's Civil Courts of Justice ruled against him.

Thakrar, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, must serve a minimum of 35 years before he can be considered for parole and is currently being held at HMP Woodhill, a Category A prison, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

He was jailed along with his brother Miran in 2007 for the gangland-style execution of three drug dealers in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.

After examining the 14 different grounds on which Thakrar was complaining, Mr Justice Hickinbottom said the policies were lawful.

Thakrar claims that, under the European Convention on Human Rights, while in prison his rights under Article 6 (to a fair trial) and Article 8 (to respect for one's private and family life), are being breached.

The case will now continue on the basis that Thrakrar will allege that the Prison Service was in breach of these established polices when the incidents he is complaining of happened.

A further hearing will be listed in the new year.

If Thakrar wins his case, he will be able to sue the authorities for damages.

In November 2011, Thakrar was cleared of two counts of attempted murder and three counts of wounding with intent after an incident at Frankland Prison in County Durham.

He admitted lashing out with a broken bottle and injuring three prison guards but the jury agreed he acted in self-defence in a "pre-emptive strike" after suffering years of alleged racist bullying.