Lags play con trick
EX-CONS are being paid to act tough in front of new prison officers to prepare them for life behind bars.
Former inmates have been brought in by the Prison Service to give training a more realistic feel amid a rise in resignations and soaring levels of violence.
The prison actors – all members of London-based Synergy Theatre Project – are being used in pilot schemes at HMP Wymott, Lancs and at Littlehay, Cambs.
A source said: “The prisoners don’t hold back. They are aggressive, confrontational and verbally abusive. It is designed to harden up the new recruits.”
A third of prison officers who join the service quit within a year.
The Prison Service is evaluating the courses to decide whether to change training.
A COUPLE were “held hostage” and forced to pay £4,000 for damage to a wedding marquee before being set free.
The family celebration in Italy ended in a “terrifying interrogation” for Rosie and Jack Deverson.
They were locked behind iron gates and held to ransom for four hours.
“Minimal” damage was caused to the plastic marquee when Jack, 24, threw sparklers over a balcony to avoid getting burned by them.
It happened as the cake was being cut at Rosie’s cousin’s August wedding reception.
The couple apologised straight away and went back the next day to discuss the damage.
But Rosie and Jack say they were held captive at the Villa Silvana venue, near Sorrento.
Rosie says she was forced to take out a 4,000 euro bank loan via her smartphone to pay for the damage, before being allowed to leave.
Office manager Rosie says she is convinced she and Jack would “not have been allowed” to leave without paying.
She said: “I had to show my face, it was the decent thing to do to make sure my cousin didn’t lose her deposit.
“But as soon as we got there the gates were locked behind us. It was a horrible situation and we were told the damage would cost £8,000 to fix.
“They made us sign documents which said we were solely responsible for the damage.
“We were completely intimidated and we would not have been able to leave without paying 4,000 euros there and then.”
Rosie’s cousin Lucy’s wedding cake was being cut on a balcony at the venue, when Jack, a scaffolder, from Folkstone, Kent, lit some sparklers provided for guests.
As sparks got closer to his bare skin, he threw the red-hot fireworks over the balcony. They landed on the marquee, causing small burn marks
Rosie said: “I made the payment on their card machine. I felt terrified. I’ve now got a loan that will take me two years to pay off.”
She says they were told to expect a bill for the remainder of the cash.
Rosie and Jack have consulted a solicitor and contacted police both here and in Italy, to no avail.