A VIOLENT criminal won the right to have £2,000 NHS fertility treatment inside prison while law-abiding couples are denied IVF.

The inmate would become a father while he is still behind bars if the treatment is successful.

Former prisons minister Sam Gyimah approved his IVF application last February, the Daily Mail reported.

He made his case using Article Eight of the Human Rights Act, which says we have the right to enjoy a family life in the way we choose.

Tory MP David Davies told the Daily Mail: "This is an insult to law-abiding families who are unable to obtain IVF.

"This is yet another example of the crazy Human Rights Act which ought to be radically changed or got rid of."

Only a few applications for IVF treatment have been approved for inmates while they are behind bars, the newspaper claimed.

In 2015, five inmates applied to have IVF treatment, and the following year seven prisoners applied, but three withdrew their applications.

Last year, one inmate had their application approved, and another two are still being considered.

Every year, thousands of ordinary couples are rejected for IVF treatment, which costs approximately £3,000 per attempt.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice told the newspaper: "The small number of prisoners requesting access to IVF are subject to a strict assessment - including the risk they pose and their relationship with their partner - and permission is given extremely rarely."

Sun Online has contacted the MOJ for comment.