I’m in segregation for a month but I’ve still got my phone

Prisoner posts pic AFTER handset sweep in prison

A PRISONER has been bragging online that he still has a mobile phone – despite being locked in a segregation cell after a raid by prison chiefs.

The Record told yesterday how inmate Michael Roberts had boasted on Facebook about his “easy” life behind bars in a series of smug social media comments.

The 22-year-old, who is serving a three-year prison sentence at Edinburgh’s Saughton Prison for his part in a knife robbery in the capital in March, had uploaded naked pictures of himself and other cons.

After prison bosses found out, a cell sweep was carried out.

But Roberts has gone on social media again to show he still has a phone. This time, he claims to be in segregation – commonly known as “the digger” among inmates.

One photograph, uploaded to Snapchat by Mikeyroberts6, shows a picture of Roberts with a caption reading: “Down the digger for a month f**king snakes.”

In our story, we published photos posted by Roberts, of himself and other inmates. Among them was John Reid who was just 16 when he killed Simon San, 40, with a single punch outside the San family’s Yong Hua Chinese takeaway restaurant in Lochend, Edinburgh, in 2010. Roberts, who was also involved in the attack on Simon, was given a 42-month sentence for assault. Photographs of Roberts and Reid were taken as the pair are serving time together in the same jail for a string of other offences.

A source close to the prison told the Record inmates had been tipped off about a recent cell search before it was carried out.

The source said: “Mikey and another inmate, Lee Ridgway, have four phones – two iPhones, an Alcatel and a Samsung. They deliberately left one iPhone out and during the search, it was found.

“Mikey took the blame as he’s serving a longer stretch whereas Ridgway is out next month. Mikey then got sent down the digger.

“But he’s been on Facebook and Snapchat showing he’s still got a phone, which he must have hidden.”

Following the series of public photos and posts, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that an investigation had been launched.

Police have also launched a probe after prisoners apparently posted nude photos of themselves from inside jail.

Last night, a prison source said: “After all this came to light, Roberts was searched.

“It’s highly unlikely he has a phone in segregation.”