A TEENAGER who left his friend for dead after a brutal attack has had an application for early release from prison turned down.

Robert Fuller, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has served two years of a six-year sentence for attempting to murder Ashley Murray, who was 13 at the time.

Ashley was stabbed 18 times by teenagers Fuller and Daniel Gill, at Birk Crag, near Harrogate, in January 1999.

Ashley's mother, Jo, launched a campaign to keep the pair in prison after hearing that the parole board was considering an early release for Fuller, 17.

She was told in a letter from 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."

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."

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