A MURDERER from Didcot who killed a “gentle” 18-year-old friend before dumping his body in a ditch has failed to convince a judge his good behaviour behind bars merits a cut in his sentence.

Steven Knott, of Druids Walk, was just 16 when he and Leon Paige, also 16, plotted the murder of Richard Parker, from Crowmarsh Gifford, who had told police one of their friends was a shoplifter .

He died after the pair he considered friends attacked him with bottles and a knife.

His body was found four days later in a ditch under a sleeping bag.

Knott, now 24, and Paige were convicted of the murder in June 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

They were told they must serve a minimum of 12 years before they would be considered for parole.

At the High Court in London, Knott’s lawyers argued that tariff should now be cut to reflect what they said was his “exceptional progress” in custody.

They pointed to a wealth of positive reports from prison and the fact he finally accepted his role in Richard’s murder.

The decision means Knott will not be able to seek parole until January 2015 and even then he will only be released if he can convince the Parole Board he is not a danger to the public.