Psychotic ex-convict Malcolm Casey, who fears he will end up back behind bars if he is not moved from the York bed-and-breakfast where the council housed him, is to have his case heard at an appeal.

Malcolm Casey: livingin York guesthouse

An independent panel of three City of York councillors, sitting as the housing appeals sub-committee, will hear his request to be rehoused on Friday, September 17.

Malcolm, 35, has been living at the Anka guesthouse, in Bishopthorpe Road, since July when he was released from a special wing at Ranby jail, Nottinghamshire, where he was serving 27 months for burglary and driving offences.

Diagnosed psychopathic at the aged of 15, he has spent ten years in Ashworth high-security psychiatric hospital and the majority of his adult life in jail for a range of offences including violence.

Backed by his York-based solicitor Trevor Cox, he made a desperate plea in the Evening Press last month.

He argued that living in close contact with others at the bed-and-breakfast was a potentially explosive situation where people could be in danger and he could lose his new-found freedom.

But the council defended its choice of housing, which, it said, was made only after a full risk assessment with police and the probation service.

Mr Cox said his client was making the effort to rebuild his life and steer clear of trouble but his current accommodation was a "wholly innappropriate" place to do that.

He called on the council to play their part in helping his client by finding him a self-contained place of his own where he posed much less of a risk to others.

A City of York Council spokesman said: "Mr Casey has expressed dissatisfaction with the accommodation which has been found for him by the council.

"He is entitled to appeal against the reasonableness of his accommodation.

"The appeal will be heard by a completely independent panel looking at all the circumstances and Mr Casey will be allowed to be fully represented."

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