The news that Learco Chindamo — the man who murdered head teacher Philip Lawrence in 1995 — has won his appeal to stay in this country because to deport him would breach his human rights, is absolutely pathetic.

As far as I’m concerned, this is not a “human rights” issue. Nice as it may be to stay with your family and friends when you’ve served your minimum 12-year sentence for murder, it’s not a breach of basic rights to be deported back to Italy.

Returning to Italy won’t put your life in danger. Unfortunately, you showed precious little regard for another human life when you knifed Mr Lawrence. Quite why we should feel sympathy for you now is another matter.

Reformed character? Of course that’s possible, but that’s still no reason to allow him to stay in the UK.

The Home Office will be appealing against the ruling made by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: “We believe that foreign prisoners who have committed serious crimes should face automatic deportation from the UK at the end of their sentence.”

Hear hear.