THE Home Secretary has said “monster” rapist Josef Fritzl is “never” coming to the UK amid reports he wants to move the Highlands to “roam free”.

James Cleverly made the comment about Austrian Fritzl who was jailed in 2009 for life after he pleaded guilty to forcing his 18-year-old daughter to be his sex slave in their family home cellar for 24 years. Over this time, she gave birth to seven children.

Fritzl, now 88, was approved to be moved out of a high security prison to a regular facility in January. However this was blocked, and a new trial date is set for April – and his legal team have hopes to set him free completely.

According to a report in the Scottish Sun, Fritzl has said he want to move to the Highlands if he does get out because of the “spectacular scenery”.

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The Sun report claimed the rapist said he decided this after watching a documentary about Shakespeare.

Fritzl’s lawyer Astrid Wagner told the Press and Journal: “He will, to my mind, he will get out of prison. But it will take time.

“It is also a fight against the time, because Mr Fritzl is very old already. He wants to get to at least 100 years. If he gets to 100 years, he will get out living, not dead.”

However, James Cleverly responded to reports and said: “This monster is never coming to our country.

“Any attempt to travel to the UK will be refused – as it would be for anyone convicted of serious sex offences like this.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will by law refuse any application to enter the UK where the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence and received a custodial sentence of 12 months or more.”