Cabinet minister calls for whole-life murderer Victor Farrant to stay in jail

Glenda Hoskins was killed by Victor Farrant, who drowned her in the bath of her home in Portsmouth

Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt has urged Justice Secretary Alex Chalk not to release a murderer who was given a whole-life prison term.

Victor Farrant was told he would never be freed after killing his ex-girlfriend Glenda Hoskins, 43, in Portsmouth, in 1996.

Mrs Hoskins' children were told he may be released on compassionate grounds.

Probation and prison staff and police will meet today to discuss the level of risk he poses.

Farrant murdered Mrs Hoskins, an accountant, by holding her under water in her bath.

Mrs Hoskins' body was found by her then 15-year-old daughter Katie at their home on the quayside in Portsmouth in February 1996.

The judge at Winchester Crown Court told Farrant: "This murder was so terrible, and you are so dangerous, that in your case the sentence of life should mean just that."

Farrant raped a woman and seriously assaulted another before killing Mrs Hoskins.

'No compassion'

In February this year, Mrs Hoskins' family was contacted by probation officials, who said Farrant was being considered for release - which can be ordered by Mr Chalk as Justice Secretary - on health grounds.

They were asked if they wanted an exclusion zone and an order not to contact the Hoskins family to be added to the terms of Farrant's licence.

Ms Mordaunt, the MP for Portsmouth North, is supporting Mrs Hoskins' children's campaign for Farrant to stay behind bars.

Glenda Hoskins' children Iain (r), David and Katie have appealed to the government to keep Victor Farrant in jail

She said in a letter to Mr Chalk: "Mr Farrant should never be released. He is a danger to women and has demonstrated repeatedly, that he cannot be reformed.

"I find it deeply troubling that a man such as Mr Farrant is being considered for release on compassionate grounds when it is evident, he displayed no compassion towards his victims."

A multi-agency public protection (MAPPA) meeting will be held today at which police and probation officials will discuss the risk posed by Farrant.

Mrs Hoskins' son Iain has written to the panel saying: "The words 'compassionate release' make my blood boil.

"Our mother was murdered and subjected to months of terror and stalking by this vile creature - where's her compassion?"

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ's) early release policy states that inmates can be let out when seriously incapacitated or in the last few months of their life.

It says the early release of a prisoner must not put the public at risk.

The Hoskins family say they have been given no information about Farrant's health condition.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "Glenda Hoskins' murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with her family and friends.

"Prisoners are only released on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances following strict risk assessments and no formal application has yet been made in this case."