A jailed paedophile who was offered Legal Aid to sue the Home Office because his wheelchair did not work properly has dropped his claim.

Glen Want, 39, from Horsham, is serving a four-year sentence in Lewes prison after being caught encouraging children under five to pose for indecent pictures.

In April last year he won a reduction to his original five-year sentence after judges said he was not given enough credit for his guilty plea.

But he has admitted defeat in his latest legal challenge after the Home Office insisted it would strenuously oppose his bid for a judicial review of his treatment at Lewes.

Want, who has walking difficulties, claimed his human rights had been breached because he had been provided with an unsuitable wheelchair.

The Legal Services Commission agreed to fund his application for the review.

A spokesman said: "Some of our contracted solicitors' firms can grant funding for cases under devolved powers, providing the client meets a financial means and legal merits test, which is laid down by Parliament.

"Our justice system requires that prisoners are entitled to receive funding for advice and assistance on issues arising from their treatment or discipline within the prison system.

"Applicants for legal aid cannot be differentiated between on the grounds a decision to grant funding may be unpopular in a particular case. The sole consideration must be whether an individual meets the eligibility tests."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We had been contesting this case but we understand the prisoner has now agreed to drop the action."

Want was jailed at Lewes Crown Court in August 2002 after pleading guilty to indecent assault and inciting gross indecency.

Police raided his home in August 2001, seized his personal computer and found dozens of images of young children.

One showed him carrying out a serious sexual assault on a young girl. Others showed a young boy and girl engaged in sex acts. All the children were aged five at the time.

Want later regretted pleading guilty, having represented himself at the hearings, and appealed against the sentence.