Blade star Snipes loses bid to postpone prison sentence

Blade star Wesley Snipes has lost his bid to postpone the start of his prison sentence after a judge denied his request to delay his surrender until the New Year.

The actor will spend the upcoming holiday season behind bars after he and his lawyers have spent two years fighting his 2008 conviction after being found guilty of failing to file tax returns or pay tax on earnings of $38 million (£25.3) dating back to 1999.

Snipes asked for the delay on thw grounds of his 'four minor children', claiming he didn't want to leave them "in the middle of the holiday season".

The judge rejected the motion as Snipe's original punishement was dealt nearly three years ago, and plenty of time to place his affairs in order, adding: "The sooner he begins his sentence, the sooner it will end."