The future of David Blagdon jailed for life for setting fire to church curtains could be decided in a fortnight's time.

Blagdon, 48, set fire to curtains and pews at St Laurence's Church, South Hinksey, in 1978. The offence happened soon after the death of his step-parents and was defended as a cry for help.

Two years ago, Blagdon escaped from Gloucestershire's Leyhill open prison, using the jailbreak to highlight the length of his sentence.

Now at Lindholme open prison in South Yorkshire, Blagdon hopes a hearing before the parole board on May 2 will set him on the way to freedom.

His solicitor Kevin O'Gorman said: "I would be highly delighted if David was freed on May 2 but I don't think that is likely to happen. What could happen is that a structure would be put in place with agencies like the probation service to help David become assimilated back into society more gradually, over a period of months.'' Blagdon, formerly of Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, had previous convictions for assault, theft, burglary and blackmail. After starting the fire, he gave himself up.

At Oxford Crown Court, the judge, Christopher Young now retired handed down a life sentence to keep him out of danger. The judge told the Home Office: "In a just society, Blagdon should not be in prison at all but in a secure place where he could be offered, and receive, some treatment."