British serial killer Dennis Nilsen today lost his battle for the right to publish his autobiography.
An attempt by Nilsen to win judicial review was rejected by the High Court in London this morning.
Nilsen's lawyer, Ms Alison Foster QC, had accused Home Secretary David Blunkett and the governor of Full Sutton Prison, near York, of breaching his human rights by refusing to return a copy of the partially completed work.
Ms Foster had argued at a recent hearing that the case raised an issue of general importance for other prisoners in a similar position.
Nilsen, 57, admitted killing and butchering 15 young men, most of them homeless homosexuals, at his north London home.
The former policeman was jailed for life in 1983, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 25 years, on six counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He was later made the subject of a "whole life" tariff.
The judge said today that the Secretary of State was "entitled to have regard to the likely effect of publication on members of the public, including survivors and the families of victims of Mr Nilsen's serial offences".
He added: "I am unimpressed by the suggestion that anyone can choose not to read whatever may be published."
PA