JEREMY Bamber, who is serving life for killing five members of his family in 1985, has lost his Court of Appeal challenge against an order that he must stay behind bars for life.

Three judges in London rejected his plea that his “whole-life” tariff should be reduced to a minimum of 25 years to give him some hope of release on parole.

Bamber, 48, who continues to protest his innocence, watched the proceedings via video link from Full Sutton prison in Yorkshire, but showed no reaction when the decision was announced.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice David Clarke and Mr Justice Wyn Williams, dismissed Bamber’s application for permission to appeal against his tariff.

He said the reasons for the decision would be given in writing at a date to be fixed.

Bamber was found guilty in 1986 of shooting his wealthy adoptive parents, June and Nevill, his sister Sheila Caffell, and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas at their farmhouse in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

After the hearing, June Bamber’s niece, Ann Eaton, said: “We are confident the decision made today against Jeremy was the right decision.”

Last May a High Court judge ruled that the “whole-life” tariff imposed in Bamber’s case in 1988 by the then Home Secretary must remain.

The decision to uphold the tariff was made by Mr Justice Tugendhat following an application by Bamber to have a minimum prison term set, which would have given him the chance of seeking release on parole in the future.

But Mr Justice Tugendhat said the murders were “exceptionally serious” and announced that in his judgment Bamber ought to spend the whole of the rest of his life in prison.

At trial the prosecution alleged he had carried out the murders out of greed, hoping to inherit a £500,000 fortune.

But Bamber consistently argued that his sister, a model known as “Bambi”, who had a history of mental illness, killed her family before turning the gun on herself.

In October 1986, he was convicted of the murders by a majority of ten to two.

He was sentenced to life with a recommendation at the time by the trial judge that he should serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars.

The then Lord Chief Justice agreed with that period, but both judges expressed doubt that he would ever be released. Bamber was later told that in his case life must mean life, leaving him with no hope of being considered for release.

It was argued on his behalf today that the 25-year minimum term was the correct sentence.