A MURDERER who shot a love rival at close range as he fled for his life will be able to apply for parole next year.

Alan Neale, 50, was jailed for life in November 1994 for the murder of Paul Blackledge, who was blasted in the back with a shotgun as he ran from a house in Longton Close, Blackburn.

Preston Crown Court was told that Neale had become jealous when married Blackledge, of Great Harwood, began seeing his girlfriend.

Neale's case reached London's High Court when Mr Justice Cooke ruled on his correct minimum tariff - the period he must serve before he can apply for parole.

The judge, who said Neale's crime stemmed from his ob-sessive jealousy and possessive feelings towards an ex-lover, set his tariff at 15 years.

After time spent on remand is taken into account, the killer can now apply for parole in November next year.

Mr Blackledge's death, in November 1993, was the culmination of months of stalking of his ex-partner by Neale, formerly of Newcastle, who had "never accepted their parting as permanent" and continued to visit her home, the court was told.

On one occassion he went to her home where he slashed her bed and clothes, and smashed a bottle of perfume.

On the day of the murder, Neale lay in wait for his ex-lover and her new boyfriend, Mr Blackledge, hiding upstairs with a sawn-off pump-action shotgun.

When Mr Blackledge materialised, Neale confronted him with the gun, and while his victim managed to dodge the first blast, Neale then pursued him out into the street, shooting him mortally in the back as he tried to flee in his car.

Neale's lawyers urged the High Court judge to impose an unusually light minimum term in light of his good progress behind bars.

But Mr Justice Cooke, who was reviewing the case at London's Royal Courts of Justice, said Neale's progress, "although commendable, was not so exceptional as to justify a tariff below 15 years."

Once Neale's tariff expires, he will only be freed if he can persuade the parole board he poses no serious danger to the public.

When freed, he will remain on perpetual "life licence", subject to prison recall if he puts a foot wrong.