EIGHTEEN years after he murdered a notorious paedophile and child killer at Whitemoor Prison, Michael Cain has been denied a softer prison regime.

Cain had appealed to the High Court after complaining prison authorities had refused to downgrade his category A prisoner status.

But Mr Justice Stadlen refused to downgrade the status even though he recognised his ruling would be “unwelcome” to Cain.

The hearing was reminded that Cain had only confessed four years ago to his part in the prison killing of paedophile Leslie Bailey.

Cain told a psychologist that he had “held the belief for many years” that Bailey was not a “victim” because of the “nature” of his crimes.

He said he had acted as a “look out” while “his associate” John Brooks went into a cell to beat and strangle Bailey.

The judge said Cain was to be “commended” for his “belated admission of responsibility” for Bailey’s murder and willingness to address his “offending behaviour”.

In recent years Cain has been held at Frankland jail near Durham and Full Sutton jail near York, the judge heard.

Cain - who is in his mid 40s - was given a life term in 1987 after being convicted of murdering a shopkeeper during a robbery.

In 1995, he was given a second life term after he and another inmate were convicted of murdering child killer Bailey - who was known as “Catweazle” - at Whitemoor in 1993.

His minimum prison term expired in 2010 but parole board officials have not recommended his release.

Bailey was serving three life sentences for his part in the killing of three boys who had been abducted by a group of paedophile sadists. He was one of 100 ‘Rule 43’ prisoners at Whitemoor who was segregated from other inmates for fear of violence.