AN APPLICATION for early release by a youth who attempted to murder his friend and left him for dead has been turned down.

Robert Fuller, from Harrogate and now 17, has served two years of a six-year sentence after he attempted to kill Ashley Murray, who was 13 at the time.

Ashley's mother, Jo, launched a campaign and gathered a petition to keep Fuller, and his accomplice Daniel Gill, in prison after hearing that the parole board was considering his early release. But the decision has been made before the petition was even sent to Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Mrs Murray was told by the Harrogate Youth Offending Team: "I am now able to inform you that the youth offending team received notification from the parole board regarding Robert Fuller.

"I can inform you that his application for early release has been unsuccessful."

Mrs Murray said: "This is absolutely superb news.

"The first thing I did was send a text message to Ashley asking him to ring me. He was ecstatic. He said it was the best Christmas present ever."

Ashley had been stabbed 18 times by Fuller and Gill and left for dead at Birk Crag, near Harrogate, in January 1999. Both had been 14 at the time.

"I was opposed to the early release because I couldn't believe somebody capable of doing that could change in only two years," said Mrs Murray.

"It is tremendous news, but I still think the system is wrong for making us go through what we have been through in the past few months. He should not have even been considered for early release."

The parole board is also considering an application for early release by Gill.

But Mrs Murray said: "If they have refused Fuller's application, I can't see they would release Gill, who was unanimously convicted of attempted murder."

Fuller's mother, Vanessa, said: "We are not very happy, but at least Robert knows how he stands now.

"We will be appealing against this decision."

Updated: 10:58 Saturday, December 15, 2001