A man who spent six weeks too long in jail because of a series of legal blunders has had a claim for damages thrown out "with regret."

Darren Quinland, formerly of Downhall Road, Rayleigh, was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Chelmsford Crown Court in June 1993 for a series of offences.

However, the Appeal Court in London heard the judge got his sums wrong and, when all the various sentences were added up, they should have only come to two years and three months.

Mr Quinland sued two prison governors and the Lord Chancellor's Department for more than £15,000, but Appeal Court judges have upheld an earlier court ruling that his claim had to be dismissed.

Appeal judge Lord Justice Clarke said: "I too reach the conclusion that this appeal fails with regret."

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002