MILLIONAIRE Owen Oyston has yet another day in court next month - with hopes of a release from prison well before Christmas.

Oyston has spent three years and four months in closed prisons following his conviction for the rape of a teenage fashion model from East Lancashire at his baronial home at Claughton, near Lancaster.

Now, finally, he and his family are daring to think of a release within weeks.

October 13 has been set for the Judicial Review in the Royal Courts of Justice of the Parole Board's refusal to allow him out on licence.

At a High Court hearing a few weeks ago Mr Justice Maurice Kay, giving permission for the review, said Oyston's situation was "a Catch 22."

He told Oyston's barrister Beverley Lang that the Board had refused to give her client parole on the grounds that he would not admit his guilt and had therefore not been allowed on a rehabilitation course. And yet he could not take such a course unless he faced up to his crime.

Oyston, worth more than £100 million, has had backing from Labour MP Dale Campbell-Savours and now veteran Left-winger Tony Benn has shown an interest in the case.

Mr Benn has written to Home Secretary Jack Straw and Straw, in turn, is understood to have written to Oyston explaining that he does not have the power to overrule the Parole Board.

Beverley Lang will again be representing the owner of Blackpool FC in next month's hearing and the family are hoping that the judge will rule as "unlawful" the Parole Board's refusal to grant Oyston parole after serving more than half his six-year sentence.

The Parole Board would then be likely to act on that judgement before Oyston's lawyers needed to take up the cudgels yet again.

A family friend said last night: "We are hopeful. But we have had our hopes dashed several times in the past few years."

Oyston, now 65, is currently serving his sentence at Wealstun Prison, near Wetherby, Yorkshire.

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