Friends smuggling steaks into prison for hungry inmates

PRISONERS left hungry by small meals prepared in jail are getting friends on the outside to smuggle in steaks, according to a review.

Inmates at HMP Thorn Cross, a 380-capacity open prison in Cheshire, are having sausages, bacon, fish and steaks thrown over the fence.

A report by the independent monitoring board found contraband at the establishment continues to be “problematic”, despite the efforts of catering teams to satisfy prisoners’ culinary tastes with “themed nights” offering food from countries around the world.

It said: “In the reporting year there have been incidences of mobile phones, sim cards, phone chargers, and other substances and even fresh meat and fish. Despite excellent use of intelligence available to the discipline staff, it remains a problem.”

Prisoners are able to cook food with microwaves and toasters.

A spokesman for the prison service said: “Smuggling unauthorised items into prison is unacceptable and anyone found doing so can face longer behind bars.”