THE leader of a racist gang who killed Glasgow teenager Kriss Donald has had his human rights breached by being kept in solitary confinement, according to a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Imran Shahid, who murdered the 15-year-old in a brutal and sustained racially motivated attack in 2004, lodged the claim on the basis of his time spent in segregation.

Although the murderer, who is serving a 25-year sentence, was told he was not eligible for damages, it emerged he has totalled a legal aid bill of over £400,000 in the course of claims that he has suffered “degrading” treatment.

Shahid, of Asian background, was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2006 along with his brother Zeeshan Shahid and Mohammed Faisal Mushtaq of the racially-aggravated abduction and murder of white teenager Kriss.

The gang stabbed their victim13 times and set him on fire in Glasgow in March 2004.

Yesterday, judges at the Supreme Court found Shahid was unlawfully kept in solitary confinement on three separate occasions, totalling 14 months. According to human-rights law segregation of prisoners should not continue beyond 72 hours unless Scottish ministers’ authority has been granted before that period expires.

However, in a written ruling, the Supreme Court judges said that three orders made on behalf of ministers authorising Shahid’s continued segregation had been granted after the 72 hours had expired.

They said: “Consequently, the appellant’s segregation for periods totalling about 14 months lacked authorisation under the prison rules. It is, however, accepted that the appellant was not prejudiced as a result.”

The court heard Shahid had been put in solitary confinement for his own safety after he was attacked by an inmate in 2011, and he had spent a total of 56 months in segregation.

But judges ruled there should have been a plan in place to help re-integrate him into the prison population. They also claimed the emotive nature of his crime meant that consideration should have been given to placing him in a prison in another part of the UK.

The Supreme Court ruling said it was exceptional for a prisoner to be kept in segregation for so long. However, the judge noted that: “The conditions in which he was kept were not inhuman or degrading. The purpose of his segregation was to protect his safety, and there were reasonable grounds for believing that he was at risk of attack.

Yesterday, the Scottish Legal Aid board said the total paid out in legal assistance was £403,893.59. However, Shahid was denied damages.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) said: “The ruling in the Supreme Court means that Shahid’s solicitors have been awarded judicial expenses. If accepted the solicitors will then reimburse SLAB for any fees and outlays we have already paid out in relation to the Supreme Court case. Mr Shahid will receive no compensation.”

Shahid’s lawyers, Taylor & Kelly, said: “The Supreme Court has taken the opportunity of referring to international standards and reports which have consistently held that segregation beyond 15 days will cause a detriment and should be resorted to only when necessary.”