Arsonist David Blagdon is trying to take the Home Office to court after breaking out of jail to protest about his life sentence.

He has written to the Oxford Mail revealing his plans after serving 20 years for setting fire to a church.

Police launched a major search for Blagdon, 47, in August when he absconded from Leyhill Open Prison, Gloucestershire.

He was recaptured seven weeks later and is now in Bullingdon Prison near Bicester.

In 1978, Blagdon, of Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, was jailed for life at Oxford Crown Court for setting fire to St Laurence's Church in South Hinksey. He left a working party at Leyhill, a category D jail, where offenders are not considered a risk to the public, to protest about his life sentence.

From his cell at Bullingdon, Blagdon, who was due to be considered for parole before absconding in August, has written to the Oxford Mail to reveal how he got a job while he was on the run.

He said in the hand-written two-page letter: "I am doing life for arson to a church in Oxford. "I did £1,000 of damage with no life in danger at all.

"I did it because my mother and father both died with a few months of each other and could not cope with it. I am now coming up for 21 years for it. I think that is plenty for the crime and that is why I went on the run from Leyhill Prison. "I did not do any crime when I was out and I also got a job. I am now trying to take the Home Office to court with my solicitor who is based in Sheffield."

When Blagdon escaped from Leyhill, the vicar of St Laurence's Church, the Rev John Davis, said he thought the prisoner should now be freed. "If you are a murderer, it is possible to spend less time than he has already served. No-one is beyond God's forgiveness and it is now time Mr Blagdon is forgiven."

Mark Flinton, who is in charge of Blagdon's prison wing, said it was likely that the prisoner's case would go before a review panel, to decide whether he should serve the rest of his sentence in an open or closed prison.

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