Incest monster Josef Fritzl, 89, wins bid to move from high-security jail – but judge slaps down beast’s freedom dream

TWISTED sex offender Josef Fritzl has been granted permission to move to a regular prison.

A court hearing today decided the heinous incest monster can leave his high-security jail cell – despite the Austrian sex offender, 89, still serving a life sentence for keeping his daughter as a sex slave.

Fritzl was jailed for life after keeping his daughter Elisabeth as his sex slave for 24 years

Fritzl pictured at the high security Sankt Poelten Prison

Louis Wood

The incest monster was pictured smirking as he arrived at court back in January[/caption]

Although he can be moved from Stein prison in Krems an der Donau, he has been denied hope of any early release because of what judges called his “unprecedented criminal energy“.

Krems an der Donau Regional Court revealed the new verdict by a panel of three judges today following a closed hearing on April 30.

A court had first ordered the transfer on the basis Fritzl no longer posed any threat.

But in March, the decision to move Fritzl was overturned – and the case was sent back to the Krems court for a new hearing.

Judges ruled that Fritzl would not be released but his transfer to a regular prison would “cause no danger”.

They said the move would be for a 10-year probationary trial period but declared there was no case to free him into the community.

The ruling said “the prisoner’s dangerousness has been reduced and no criminal offence with serious consequences is to be expected any more”.

But the judges warned that Fritzl’s “criminal energy” prevented early release from jail.

The monster has reportedly already “packed his bags” and had been preparing to leave the prison’s secure psychiatric wing even before the court’s decision was confirmed.

Fitting his belongings into two sports bags, Fritzl is reportedly taking only a few books, a typewriter, pens, notepads, and some items of clothing.

He is expected to leave the Stein as soon as possible.

He was even said to be hoping to travel to England to meet King Charles soon.

Fritzl once revealed he dreamed of Britain’s “spectacular scenery” while watching a documentary about Shakespeare in his high-security prison.

He recalled: “I was filled with this wonderful, uplifting feeling, this sense of inspiration for this fantastic culture.

“And it was then I knew that when I get released, it is not Austria I want to stay, rather I want to emigrate to the UK.”

James Cleverly promised to oppose the Austrian monster’s desire to move to the UK if he ever gets free.

Fritzl was exposed in 2008 for his heinous crimes against his daughter and grandchildren and jailed a year later.

He admitted fathering seven children with his daughter Elisabeth in an underground dungeon where he held her prisoner for 24 years.

The monster repeatedly raped and abused his daughter who gave birth to seven babies during her capture.

One tragically died at birth due to breathing difficulties as Fritzl heartlessly tossed the tiny corpse into a furnace.

Three others were brought up in the horrific basement with their mother as the remaining trio were allowed to venture out of the hellhole and were watched over by Fritzl and his unaware wife.

In his bombshell trial in 2009, the evil Austrian pleaded guilty to rape, false imprisonment, manslaughter by negligence and incest.

The perverted pensioner became eligible for parole in March after 15 long years locked up under Austria’s rather lenient sentencing laws.

He was kept inside the high security jail despite his parole date being set as the decision to move him to a normal jail was overturned.

In January, Fritzl was pictured smirking as he dramatically won his bid to be moved to a regular prison.

Inmates who are judged as ready for parole can be freed depending on their conduct and mental and physical condition.

Fritzl, who has repeatedly asked to be released, had his case reviewed by justice and prison officials who made the final decision.

As well as suffering from Alzheimer’s he is also said to be so frail he needs a walking frame to get around.

Adelheid Kastner, one of Austria‘s most renowned psychiatrists, has reportedly deemed Fritzl no longer a threat to society.

Fritzl was previously granted a conditional release which was later overturned by the Vienna Higher Regional Court.

The court said there are more facts needed before such a decision can be made.

Fritzl, who changed his name to Mayrhoff in an alleged attempt to evade physical attacks by other inmates, has reportedly applied for an early release several times in the past two years.

The monster’s daughter Elisabeth was forced to spend 24 years locked up in Fritzl’s hellish prison in Amstetten.

The evil man went on to rape her over 3,000 times in the dirty and rat-infested bunker.

He would also beat and kick her and force her into degrading acts – including re-enacting scenes from violent porn films, it was claimed.

The nightmare saw Fritzl threaten the trapped family members if they tried to escape as he punished them by switching off the electricity.

They only managed to escape after eldest daughter Kerstin fell critically ill in 2008.

Despite trying to argue he was trying to be a protective father, Fritzl was sentenced to life in prison in 2009.

The incest monster pictured after his arrest in 2008

Newsflash

The house where Elisabeth Fritzl was held captive for 24 years[/caption]