Appeals
In 2005 his appeal to the House of Lords over the use of secret evidence to keep him in jail failed. The evidence had been obtained by tapping private phone calls between Roberts and his solicitor. The material was then introduced as evidence at his parole hearings.
In September 2006, 70-year-old Roberts applied for a judicial review over apparent delays by the parole board in reaching a decision to free him by the end of the year. In December 2006, he was again turned down for parole. On 29 June 2007, he was given leave to seek a High Court judicial review over his failed parole bid, with the judge saying his case, "was of great public interest."
It was reported in February 2009 that Harry Roberts hoped to be freed from prison within months, having served 42 years in jail having already completed the first stage of a parole board hearing, he believed this would pave the way for his release. Roberts hoped a final hearing would find that at the age of 72 he was no longer a risk to the public and that the parole board would order his immediate release. At this time he had already served 12 years more than the minimum term recommended by his trial judge who at the time of sentencing told Roberts that it was unlikely that any future Home Secretary would "ever think fit to show mercy by releasing you on licence... This is one of those cases in which the sentence of imprisonment for 'life' may well be treated as meaning exactly what it says." It was recognised that government ministers were concerned that any decision on the matter would provoke public fury and that Roberts personal safety might be put at risk, but would nonetheless be powerless to halt the release.
Supporters of Roberts had previously claimed that successive Home Secretaries have blocked his release for political reasons because of fears of a public backlash. However Peter Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said that there would be widespread anger among serving and former officers. Legal sources said they believed that the parole board was likely to recommend that he was eligible for an open prison as a way of preparing him for his eventual release. Jack Straw, the former Justice Secretary, retained the power to reject a parole board recommendation that Roberts be moved to an open prison. However, he could not block a decision by the board to order his release.
In April 2009 it was alleged that while working at an animal sanctuary on day release, Roberts made violent threats to the owners.
In July 2009, the parole board determined that Roberts still posed a risk to the public and should continue to serve time at Littlehey prison in Cambridgeshire where he works in the library.
Read more about this topic: Harry Roberts (criminal)
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