A college is a standing by a prisoner who works as a lecturer while serving two life sentences for the murder of his parents.

Roderick Newall, who uses the name Rod Nelson, is a prisoner on day release from Ford Open Prison, near Arundel, who is working as an IT lecturer at Chichester College.

In 1994 he admitted battering his mother and father, Nicholas and Elizabeth Newall, to death in 1987 with a pair of the martial arts weapons, nunchakus.

College principal Dr Richard Parker said Newall should "be allowed to get on with his life" and described his work as "exemplary."

He said: "I believe our work with prisoners has helped a number to gain qualifications and work experience to provide a base for returning to a stable life and one in which they are fit for employment and able to make a more positive contribution to society.

"In Mr Newall's case he was directed to us for work experience. His work has been exemplary and resulted in the offer of employment as a technician.

"He is now focusing on reintergrating himself into society on his release and I would echo the reported comments made by his uncle that while what happened was an awful family tragedy he should now be allowed to get on with his life."

Dr Parker refused to reveal whether students and parents had been told about his violent past.

Newall, 41, a former lieutenant in the Royal Greenjackets, killed his parents at their bungalow in Jersey to inherit their £1million fortune.

On his release he will be eligible to claim the inheritance.

He is eligible for parole in several weeks after serving just 12 years of his double life sentence.

His brother, Mark Newall, was sentenced to six years in prison for helping to bury the bodies and served only 20 months.

Speaking to a national newspaper, their uncle, Stephen Newall, has said he has forgiven the brothers and they should be "left alone."

A prison service spokesman said they never commented on individual cases.

"Public protection is our absolute priority and the rehabilitation of offenders is a vital part of this process.

"All prisoners are rigorously risk-assessed before being given such opportunities. Life sentenced prisoners are subject to rigorous assessment throughout their sentence and at the release on temporary license stage in open conditions in line with the processes set out in their individual life sentence plans."