SUPPORTERS of jailed security guard Graham Huckerby have slammed a potentially "fatal" mistake made by the Royal Courts of Justice.

A clerk's error meant Huckerby and his family were told his case would not be heard by the Court of Appeal. But it emerged ten days later that the decision should have read "referral" and not "refusal" as first stated.

This week, Huckerby's former partner, Luci Roper, who is leading the campaign for his release, said the mix-up had had a devastating effect on the father-of-one. She said: "A mistake like that could easily have resulted in someone taking their own life. Graham was devastated when he heard the court had refused his application for appeal. He felt he had nothing left and was very tearful. I was very frightened for Graham and how he would deal with it."

The case was heard on September 10 by a single judge who ruled that the case should be sent to the Court of Appeal for a full hearing next year.