A TEENAGER who attempted to kill his friend and left him for dead is to be released after serving less than half his sentence.

Daniel Gill's victim, Ashley Murray, fears his attacker could return to Harrogate, close to where he lives.

Ashley had been stabbed 18 times by Gill and his accomplice, Robert Fuller, when both were aged only 14. Ashley had been 13.

He was dumped in Birk Crag, an isolated Harrogate beauty spot, after the pair thought he had died.

Ashley's mother, Jo, said today: "Gill has played the game, he's said he is sorry for his horrendous crime, he has confessed and he has kept his nose clean, knowing full well that this would only serve him good. Meanwhile, Ashley told me last night that he would now be too scared to leave the house because Gill will be out there."

A petition urging the parole board not to give the pair early release has collected 2,500 signatures. The Murrays had not sent it off, believing the parole hearing was set for a later date.

The parole board's decision comes only a week after an application for early release by Fuller was turned down.

"We thought if Fuller hadn't been released, Gill had no chance," said Mrs Murray.

"We were looking forward to enjoying Christmas. Now it has been ruined."

Fuller's mother, Vanessa, has still not been officially informed of Gill's imminent release. She said: "This is totally out of order. I am completely shocked. It just isn't fair."

She said an appeal against the parole board's decision not to release Fuller had been started.

Both Gill and Fuller were sentenced to a six-year sentence in 1999 after being convicted of attempted murder.

Gill's release date has not yet been confirmed, but is expected to be early next year.

Peter Foulsham, North Yorkshire's youth offending team manager, said: "Both the youth offending team and everybody concerned with this case has every sympathy with Ashley and his family for the suffering they have been through."

Gill's family was not available for comment.

Updated: 09:27 Saturday, December 22, 2001