A CREWKERNE man who murdered his wife has had his bid for freedom rejected.

Glyn Razzell, who is in his 60s, was refused release because he will not reveal where his wife's body is.

He must stay in prison under Helen's Law, which came into force earlier this year.

Razzell is serving a life sentence for murdering his estranged 41-year-old wife, mother-of-four Linda Razzell, who disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College in March 2002.

The pair were embroiled in divorce proceedings when she went missing.

His trial heard he faced a financial settlement he was not prepared to accept.

Razzell denied her killing but was found guilty at trial. No trace of her body has ever been found.

On Wednesday (October 27), the Parole Board said Razzell could remain in open prison but could not be released.

A document outlining the decision said Razzell had "maintained his innocence".

In custody, his behaviour had been good, he had been allowed out on temporary release but had not taken part in any courses or programmes to address his offending.

Regarding his "non-disclosure of information concerning the whereabouts of the victim's remains", it said: "Continued withholding of such important information suggested a need to retain a perception of himself and maintain self-preservation through keeping control of the narrative.

"This and a marked lack of empathy for those involved in the case were seen to bear on the panel's risk assessment."

The Parole Board added: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the other evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Razzell was suitable for release.

"However, on assessing the benefits and risks, the panel recommended that he should remain in open conditions where any remaining key areas could be addressed."

He will be eligible for another parole decision in about two years' time.

The Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020, known as Helen's Law, was enacted in January.

Named after insurance clerk Helen McCourt, who vanished on her way home from work in 1988, the law will also apply to paedophiles who refuse to identify those they abused.

Ms McCourt's murderer, Ian Simms, was released last year despite never saying where he hid her body.

Her mother Marie McCourt spent five years calling for the legislation before it finally gained Royal Assent in November after a series of political and constitutional setbacks.

Under the law, killers could still be released if no longer deemed a risk to the public even if they refuse to disclose information. But the Parole Board will be legally required to consider whether they have co-operated with inquiries as part of their assessment.