A MAN who was jailed as a teenager for the murder of a 19-year-old student has been denied the chance of an early release by a top judge.

Scott Westhead was only 15-years-old when he joined in a brutal attack on Sefar Iqbal Khan in Bolton's Bobby Heywood Park in November 2007.

Mr Khan was knocked to the ground and kicked and stamped on repeatedly. He was left unrecognisable even by his family.

In March 2008, after he was convicted of Mr Khan's murder, Westhead, now 23, was jailed for at least 10 years.

Yesterday, High Court judge Mr Justice Mitting said Westhead had suffered a difficult upbringing.

His father had died of a drugs overdose when he was a toddler and his schooling repeatedly interrupted by his controversial behaviour.

He had a string of convictions to his name before the killing, which he had carried out with an older youth.

Even after he was locked away, he had continued to behave badly, the judge said.

"Although he has undertaken the courses provided for him, with some success, he has not kept free of trouble," he said.

He had been punished for fighting, damaging property and having drugs and a mobile phone behind bars.

On another occasion, he had interfered when an inmate was assaulting staff and refused to step back when told to do so.

Applying for a cut in his minimum term to allow an earlier chance of parole, Westhead claimed he had made "exceptional progress" in prison.

But the judge said others who had dealt with him did not agree.

"Three out of the four probation officers who have prepared reports in 2014 and 2015 believe that, while he has made some progress, they would not assess that his progress has been exceptional," he said.

"I agree with the assessment of the probation officer. The offender's progress during his sentence has been, at best, patchy. It has been very far short of exceptional.

"I do not recommend any reduction in the minimum term set by the judge."

Although he will be entitled to apply for release towards the end of next year, Westhead will only be freed if he is considered safe by the Parole Board.