A YOUNG man given a potentially life-long jail term after he broke into and vandalised his parents' house failed in an appeal to have the sentence quashed.

Joslin Michael Whittle, 22, of Dunkin Close, Bicester, was jailed indefinitely "for public protection" at Reading Crown Court in December last year. The sentence means he will only be freed if he can persuade the Parole Board he poses no public threat.

Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Bodey and Judge David Radford at the Appeal Court in London, refused to quash the "indeterminate sentence" dismissing claims that it was not justified.

But the appeal judge did rule that he could make his first application for release on parole after serving 12 months behind bars.

The judge said the incident took place in August 2005, weeks after he was asked to leave the family home.