OWEN OYSTON will not be released from jail for another year - because he refuses to admit that he raped a former fashion model at Claughton Hall, Lancaster, the baronial hall where he lived until he was jailed for six years in 1996.

The media tycoon and owner of Blackpool Football Club, could have walked out on parole within a few weeks, but he refused point blank when before the parole board earlier this week to admit any guilt.

It was a formality that his hopes for an early release would be turned down.

Labour MP Dale Campbell-Savours, who has been investigating the case, had told Home Secretary Jack Straw in the House of Commons a few weeks ago, that Oyston was prepared to stay in prison. "Mr Oyston has refused to concede any element of guilt in in this case, even though, if he did, he might secure early parole."

The MP was last night awaiting the specific reasons for the parole board's decision. "Until we know why they reached their conclusions it is difficult for me to discuss them."

However, Vicki Oyston was quite clear: "The appalling irony is that if he was prepared to lie and say he was guilty he would be home with us in a matter of weeks."

Mrs Oyston said: "Owen has always known the consequences of this, but remains steadfast that he is not prepared to lie, even to manipulate a system that has let him down so badly, so many times."

She says the family knew what would happen but it was still a devastating blow. "We continue to hope that he will be released soon and will at last clear his name. His strength through this ordeal helps us all keep going."

Oyston, with a fortune estimated at £100 million, is in Wealstun Prison, West Yorkshire. He lost an appeal against his conviction and sentence last year and the only chance he now has of a release before the automatic two-thirds stage of his sentence is through the Criminal Cases Review Commission. which is investigating.

In a letter to Mr Campbell-Savours, the chairman of the CCRC, Sir Frederick Crawford, said Oyston's case might qualify for special investigation: "Priority ranking for review is influenced by such factors as whether or not the applicant is in prison and by the health and ages of applicants and witnesses."

Oyston, who was 65 in January, is not believed to be in robust health. Three years have taken their toll. And now he faces the near-certainly of a fourth year behind bars.

A family friend who saw him in jail a couple of weeks ago said: "Owen looks very tired. He's not a young man. And we can't understand why he is still serving his time in a closed prison. The regime in an open prison would be much more relaxed."

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