Lawyer X test: Former Gobbo lover fails appeal bid

A jailed lover of Lawyer X has failed in his appeal bid for early freedom.

The Court of Appeal today ruled over whether Richard Barkho, who shares a child with Nicola Gobbo, will get out of jail early owing to the Lawyer X police informer scandal.

Barkho argued he should be granted leave to appeal for a lesser sentence because “fresh evidence” — that his partner was an informer —was not taken into consideration when he was jailed.

He was sentenced to just over seven years in jail for drug trafficking in 2014.

The Court of Appeal this morning refused his appeal bid, with the judges ruling his relationship did not impact his sentence.

Gobbo was identified as Lawyer X last month after a five-year battle to suppress her identity.

Ms Gobbo helped convict more than 380 people, including some of her own clients.

Her role in helping police convict some of her clients prompted the Andrews Government to announce a Royal Commission into Informers last year.

One of the tasks of the Royal Commission is to find out how many convictions — including those of mafia and gangland figures — are in jeopardy.