Home Secretary Jack Straw has been accused of 'passing the buck' after being urged to personally intervene in the case of arsonist David Blagdon.

Blagdon, 47, is serving a life sentence for causing a fire at St Laurence's Church, South Hinksey, Oxford, in July 1978.

He set fire to curtains and pews at the church causing £1,200 damage.

The judge at the hearing gave him a "merciful" life sentence to keep him out of danger.

The Oxford Mail recently called on Jack Straw to intervene in the case as the campaign to free Blagdon grows.

Last year, he absconded from Leyhill Open Prison, in Gloucestershire, to highlight his case and is now behind bars at Bullingdon Prison, near Bicester.

We sent a copy of the Oxford Mail to Mr Straw's London office at Queen Anne's Gate, calling on him to take action before November, when the Parole Board is due to review Blagdon's case.

In reply, a Home Office spokesman said: "The Prison Service has only recently received representations from Blagdon's solicitor on the transfer to closed conditions. The decision will now be reviewed by the Parole Board.

"As a discretionary life sentence prisoner, any action on release on licence is a matter for the Parole Board, not the Home Secretary."

Blagdon's solicitor Kevin O'Gorman yesterday accused Mr Straw of "passing the buck", and added: "He is ducking the issue and trying to distance himself from the case.

"He is not accepting his ministerial powers of responsibility. He is ultimately responsible for the Parole Board and the least he could do is agree to look into the matter."

Blagdon, of Kingston Lisle, near Wantage, said he carried out the arson attack 21 years ago as a cry for help following the death of both his step-parents.

More than 70 fellow inmates at Bullingdon Prison have signed a petition demanding Blagdon's release.

Story date: Saturday 20 February

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