Killer of 'little blue boy' Rhys Jones faces defeat in appeal to reduce life sentence after illicit affair from jail

The killer of schoolboy Rhys Jones faces losing his appeal against his 22-year prison sentence after being caught with an illegal phone which he allegedly used to conduct an illicit affair.

Sean Mercer, 29, who was jailed for life for the shooting of 11 year old Rhys in August 2007 has been transferred to the high security Category A Franklands jail after a police search uncovered the illegal phone in his cell in the category B Dovegate prison.

He is currently seeking a high court review of his minimum 22 year term to which youth offenders jailed for life are entitled at the halfway point. He was 16 and a member of the notorious Croxteth crew when he was found guilty of the shooting dead of Rhys in a Liverpool pub car park.

Sources said it was now “not looking good” for his appeal which will take account of his behaviour in prison and rehabilitation.

His case will go before a High Court judge. If they agree he has made “exceptional progress” and “matured” behind bars Mercer, who has served 11 years so far, could then apply earlier to the Parole Board. Under the terms of his sentence, he is not due to be considered for parole until 2030.

The Sun newspaper yesterday claimed he had  chatted up a woman he met online using the illicit phone hidden in his cell. He is said to have told her he was a model prisoner who deserved release.

During their eight-month relationship, he wrote that he was in jail because he had “accidentally” hurt someone, and that he dreams of becoming a dad to “1, maybe 2 babies” when he is released.

The killing by Mercer was dramatised in ITV1’s Little Boy Blue, which aired again on Sunday.