Drug-smuggler Karel Sroubek has been denied parole due to his "undue risk".
The Czech kickboxer, also known as Jan Antolik, fled to New Zealand on a false passport before being convicted of importing ecstasy. He was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.
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On Monday, he told the Parole Board he accepted he had made a "terrible mistake".
"I've learnt that there's no shortcuts in life and that I've lost everything that I really care for.
"I want to be a good member of the community. I don't want to be remembered as a criminal or portrayed as a criminal because that's not who I am."
However on Wednesday, the Board announced he will stay behind bars, describing his risk as "significantly higher than low".
"As we have said is that Serco have seriously underestimated Mr Antolik's risk. We do not think it is low at all," it said in a statement.
"We think there is evidence to support the fact that Mr Antolik has a significant history of illegal activity in both the Czech Republic and New Zealand and spread over many years.
"Some of the offending is violent, some drugs and some dishonesty. Given that intensive past history we think he remains an undue risk."
He won't be eligible to be considered for parole again until the end of January 2020.
Sroubek is liable for deportation once released from prison after Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway backtracked on a decision to grant him residency last year.
However, the 38-year-old will remain in the country until an appeal with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal is heard.
As of Friday last week a date has not been set.
Newshub.
