A man enjoying his freedom after serving over 20 years behind bars for murdering a relative of ex-world snooker champion Dennis Taylor is back in prison.

Paul Smyth, 40, was serving a life term for killing, along with two other men, teenager Kevin Sudall in the street outside a Blackburn nightclub in July 1996.

He was eventually released on licence and settled in Blackpool.

Blackpool magistrates have now heard Smyth was arrested for not having a full driving licence, insurance and driving whilst under the influence of cocaine.

He was taken back to prison at Lancaster under the terms of his licence imposed when he was released from the murder sentence.

Mr Sudall, 22, of View Road, Darwen, was attacked in the early hours of July 6 as he left Club Euro in Blackburn.

He died in Royal Preston Hospital later that day, just a fortnight before he would have celebrated his 23rd birthday.

He had died during surgery to remove a blood clot from the surface of his brain.

The murder trial heard that apparent bad feeling between two groups of youths had led to him being punched to the ground before his head was repeatedly kicked and stamped on as he lay motionless on the pavement.

One witness described Mr Sudall's head being struck as if someone was "stamping on a beetle".

At the time, Irish snooker star Mr Taylor, who settled in East Lancashire as a teenager, spoke of the horror at the murder. He is the nephew of Kevin's mum, Sheila.

Mr Taylor joined hundreds of mourners comforting Sheila and her husband Bill at the funeral at St Edward's Church, Darwen.

The ex-champ recalled: "Kevin's mum Sheila looked after me when I came to England as a 17-year-old. She was like a second mother to me. She was so kind and Kevin was just like his mum.

"Every time I used to go and visit them Kevin was always there, pleasant with a smiling face.

"You can't believe that something like this could happen to a family that never caused any problems for anybody."

Smyth's lawyer told Blackpool magistrates last week: "As a result of being arrested for the driving licence and insurance matters which he admits and most unusual situation has arisen.

“As a result of a test at the police station he was charged with drug driving. He was told he was being recalled to prison.”

“He was given a sample of the blood test he had undertaken so that he could have it tested himself as is his legal right.

“However, when he was taken on recall the prison authorities would not allow him in with his sample.They removed it from him and was disposed of.

“As a result he cannot have his own test done.”

Magistrates agreed to a suggestion that he write to the Crown Prosecution Service to suggest they look again at the case against Smyth.