Dozens of electric fans delivered to struggling prison to help lags cope with upcoming heatwave
The £17.50 devices arrived at Victorian HMP Bedford this week — with temperatures set to reach 31C this weekend.
The crumbling prison has two inmates to each cramped cell, leading to baking temperatures in hot weather.
An inspection last year found filthy conditions, with calls for the jail to go into emergency measures.
The Category B prison holds some 420 men and has had a series of problems, with riots in 2016.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said conditions were 'some of the worst' he had seen.
READ MORE ON PRISONS
The Sun visited the site with the Justice Secretary
Wardens showed improvised weapons including loo brushes fitted with blades and toothbrushes melted to form spikes.
A Prison Service spokesman said: 'Fans can be purchased by prisoners using their own money.'
Most read in The Sun
A menu of substances including
cannabis, cocaine, and steroids is on offer, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor says.
Drones
used by criminal
gangs
are so accurate that they can deliver
drugs
and weapons, such as zombie knives, directly to specific windows.
Inside Belmarsh: Secrets of Britain's most notorious prisoners
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Dozens of electric fans have been delivered to a struggling prison to help inmates cope with the upcoming heatwave
Credit: Getty
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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was jailed with UK's most evil killers… I slapped Myra Hindley for sick tune & saw raging Rose West froth at mouth
HEARING 'Britain's most evil woman' cheerfully singing along to the radio, convicted killer Linda Calvey felt something snap inside. Seconds later Linda - 12 Evil Myra Hindley was considered the 'most evil woman in Britain' due to her crimes Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty 12 Linda reveals the Moors Murderer considered her 'a friend' - much to her annoyance 12 She labelled Rose West 'not very intelligent, drab and dull' Credit: PA:Press Association 'It all happened in a split-second,' This was her first of many encounters with the Linda, She tells us how Hindley duped prison staff to feed her Recalling her 'The next second I snapped, before I knew it, without even thinking, I slapped her. I thought, 'Oh God, what have I done?' but I'm still glad to this day that I did it. 'I remember she looked at me, rubbed her face and there was a handprint. She yelled, 'I could get you shipped off to [HMP] Holloway'. 'I said 'Holloway holds no fears for me' and walked out. The mad thing is she never reported me but I think part of it was that she had been attacked so many times before. 'Prior to that an inmate had broken her nose and there were various other issues, I think she feared officers would force her to give up her job washing inmates' clothes. 'That wouldn't have benefitted her, she would have been locked in her cell all day with nothing to do.' Pathetic last days of Rose West revealed as serial killer monster can barely walk, has no friends & has new fake identity 12 Moors Murderer Myra and Ian Brady committed abhorrent killings during the Sixties Credit: Shutterstock 12 Evil Ian Brady died at the age of 79 Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty It would take four more encounters before Myra spoke again to Linda - who next week releases gangland crime fiction Hope, loosely influenced by her experiences in prison and London's East End underworld. By this time, Hindley no longer sported her trademark blonde hair, instead dying it red. But she had the same 'harsh features and look about her' that made many lags feel uncomfortable. 'You wouldn't look at her twice on the street. She looked more like an everyday housewife than a monster but there was this evil, horrible feeling around her,' Linda recalls. 'There was no warmth or niceness. She had this unpleasant aura and was very aloof but highly, highly intelligent.' Evil obsession Linda worked in the prison library and Myra would often come in to order books - permitted for inmates - but the monster had a dark motive behind it. While she requested romantic books under her own name, she secretly used the identity of other inmates to pursue her real passion. 'She would say, 'Can you order a book under this name?' and choose totally different books. They were about Adolf Hitler, black magic and obscure things,' Linda says. 'I told one of the staff, 'This is ridiculous. Is she allowed to do this?' 'They told me to just order the books. Myra bucked the system and it proved her true feelings and desires. This was long into her sentence too.' The serial killer considered herself 'far superior' to her fellow inmates who she considered 'stupid and thick' according to Linda. It was right for her to suffer so intensely at the end of her life after all the harm she caused. I remember I used to look at her and think, 'You deserve this' Linda on Myra Hindley Myra mainly kept to herself and few prisoners wanted to talk to her. One who did was fellow monster Linda noted that they 'became thick as thieves', spending every meal time and any spare moments together, as well as often disappearing into each other's cells, in HMP Durham. 'Everybody knew they were having a fling, it was like they were stuck together. It's just beyond belief to think about,' Linda says. 'These were the two worst women in Britain, two mass murderers, and they were getting involved with each other, having an affair. 'They used to go to each other's cells all of the time and while you couldn't lock the door you could close it. Everybody knew what was going on. 'I remember one prison officer, who came over from the men's wing, being horrified when he saw them together and said, 'If I had a camera I could retire tomorrow.'' Their fling lasted seven weeks before it 'suddenly stopped' according to Linda, which she found 'very bizarre' due to how cosy they had been. She suspects the lawyer representing Rose, who was then awaiting trial, may have advised her against spending time with Myra because it was 'not a good idea and didn't look good'. 'Poetic justice' The final time Linda met Myra was in HMP Highpoint, where the villain was kept isolated living in two cells between the hospital wing and cell block. 12 Myra Hindley and Ian Brady murdered five kids Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 12 West lost her temper and flew into furious rages in front of Linda Credit: Alamy Linda says: 'It was called 'no man's land' and they decided she had to live there. Her life was totally solitary. She lived in one cell and she had a job repairing books in the other. 'She was a really ill woman then. She did suffer a lot. She had such brittle bones that they were always snapping and chronic COPD but remained a chain smoker. 'Normally you'd feel sympathy for someone like that - 'that poor person' - but for her it felt like poetic justice. 'It was right for her to suffer so intensely at the end of her life after all the harm she caused. I remember I used to look at her and think, 'You deserve this.'' Knowing she trained as a hairdresser and that they had met before, Linda was the unfortunate soul picked to style Myra hair - a task she couldn't refuse, fearing it would impact her chance of parole. She would dye it red once a month and wash it twice a week and noted that the murderer was 'very particular' as her hair was the 'only thing left she could control'. During their time together, Myra asked about life on the prison wing and spoke about her longing to go to the gym - which she was unable to do. In a bizarre moment, after several weeks styling her hair, Linda was forced to speak to Myra's mum on the phone and was told she was the beast's 'only pal'. 'With a really elderly voice, her mum said 'Hello' and 'I'm so pleased my Myra's finally got a friend',' Linda tells us. She was hysterical, absolutely enraged and yelled, 'He should be hanged! That poor cyclist'. While yes, it was terrible, that was coming from a mass murderer Linda on Rose West 'I thought, 'I am not her friend', but didn't say it. I thought about all her poor mum must have suffered having her for a daughter. She must have taken a lot of stick.' Myra was so desperate for attention that she gave Linda a bevvy of gifts including a cardigan 'to keep me warm, which looked awful' and an empty chocolate box, because it was velvet and she thought it 'looked lovely' . The monster, who died from respiratory failure in 2002, had a miserable time rotting in prison before she passed. Linda says: 'Myra was really lonely and the longer into the sentence she got the worse it was for her. In HMP Highpoint she couldn't mix with anyone and had a very lonely existence in the final two years before she died.' 'Foaming with rage' Another famous lag Linda shared her stint with was Rose West - but unlike Myra, the former was a woman of 'quite low intelligence'. One moment that highlighted it to her, was the night her husband Fred took his own life in 1995 while the House of Horrors killers were awaiting trial. 'We could hear the men from the male prison wing singing 'Fred West, has gone and hung himself' to the tune of The Village People song Go West,' Linda says. 'We all heard it but Rose never associated what they were singing with Fred having killed himself and that it was about her husband. She wasn't intelligent. 'When she found out about his suicide, she wasn't happy at all. She wasn't upset, she was angry and absolutely raving about what he had done. 12 West was 'absolutely raving' when she discovered husband Fred killed himself Credit: Shutterstock 12 Linda credits third husband George Ceasar, who died from cancer in 2015, with encouraging her to write Credit: Supplied 'I think she felt that way because until that point she thought she was going to walk away and Fred would take the rap for their crimes.' Besides being 'rather thick', Linda thought Rose was 'very drab, dry and very old fashioned' and the only positive thing about her was that she was a very talented seamstress. And while she gave off a meek persona, claiming to have been bent to evil under duress from Fred, there were a few times where the monster's mask slipped. Once was during a prison session with a university lecturer, who encouraged inmates to debate stories in the newspaper. The one they chose was about a drunk driver who ran over a cyclist, killing him, which Linda says left Rose so enraged she was 'foaming at the mouth'. 'She was hysterical, absolutely enraged and yelled, 'He should be hanged! That poor cyclist'. While yes, it was terrible, that was coming from a mass murderer. 'She started foaming at the mouth, it looked like toothpaste and we were transfixed by this gross white gunk coming out of her mouth. That's when the debate ended.' Another outburst followed an arsonist setting fire to her cell, which nearly killed her pet budgie, who was left covered in black soot. He was always proposing. He didn't write love letters, he would just say, 'I was thinking, if you'd like to marry me the offer is still there' Linda on notorious lag Linda recalls: 'Rose was hysterical, 'How could anyone be so evil to set fire to a cell and leave a bird in there' she yelled. She begged the guards to save it. 'It was given to another inmate to nurse back to health. After that, she went and lay on her bed for two days straight. She didn't get off it until the budgie was better.' Serial proposers In another surprising twist, Linda found herself on the receiving end of affection from two notorious prisoners - mobster Reggie The former, she tells us, would call her every week from prison, lavished her with gifts and once proposed before telling her 'forget I said anything' after she turned him down. Meanwhile Bronson popped the question 'probably every three months and at least 14 times' in letters as well as sending her photos. The lag, who has nearly served 50 years behind bars, contacted her claiming he knew some of her friends and said 'what a lovely person I was'. 'Due to being in prison for so long, he didn't have a lot to chat about so would ask me questions like, 'How are you?', 'Any family visits?' and that kind of thing. 12 Charles Bronson bombarded Linda with proposals Credit: SWNS:South West News Service 12 Reggie Kray (left) also tried to woo the bank robber Credit: Getty 'Then all of a sudden, 'Would you like to marry me?' I said, 'I don't think it's a good idea'. He said 'That's ok' and then three months later, was like, 'Would you like to marry me?' again. 'He was always proposing. He didn't write love letters, he would just say, 'I was thinking, if you'd like to marry me the offer is still there.' Although Bronson was originally jailed for petty crime and robbery, his attacks on fellow inmates and prison officers have seen his sentences extended to total five decades. 'I feel sorry for him, that he's still in prison. It's a shame when you put it into context. Everyone assumes he murdered someone but he didn't," says Linda. 'He just drove authorities mad for so many years with his antics. What he did wasn't that big and he's been in there forever.' Linda, who was released on parole in 2008, has put criminality firmly behind her and dedicated her life to her family and writing - she's published two memoirs and is about to release her fourth novel. Titled Hope, it's about three generations of women caught in the grips of London's murky underworld and many of the characters are loosely based on crooks she met. 'It's a world I came from, which makes it more real, and some characters are based on women I knew and met in prison,' she says. 'It was my late husband, George, who died from cancer nine years ago, that inspired me. He told me, 'Linda, go for it. Do your writing'. I've found my niche and I know I'm making him proud.' Hope, the second in a crime gangster trilogy, is published by Mountain Leopard Press on July 17. To preorder, visit 12 Linda's new book is loosely based on those she met from the criminal underworld Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was MI6 spy inside Al Qaeda – I'm haunted by 9/11 tip that came too late… but I saved thousands from another attack
WHILE thousands have suffered from Al Qaeda's brutality, few understand its inner workings as well as Aimen Dean, a former operative turned British spy. From 9/11 to London's 7/7 attacks, the terrorist group is linked with some of the most vicious atrocities of the 21st century. 10 Aimen Dean was MI6's top spy inside Al Qaeda Credit: BBC 10 Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 Credit: Getty 10 Al Qaeda were linked to the 7/7 attack on London Credit: PA:Press Association 10 Aimen with older brother at their home in Saudi Arabia Credit: Supplied / Aimen Dean The dad-of-one was 17 when he met Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, which killed almost 3,000 civilians. He had just emerged from a year battling the Serbs in the Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Aimen revealed he was lured in by the promise of fighting a 'villainous' America who he blamed for the lengthy war. But he turned on them when he saw the true face of the terror group - appalled by how they would indiscriminately slaughter civilians. Read more on World Aimen was speaking to us as this week 'He was so convincing, he was so eloquent that I believed what I now know were delusions," he said. 'Kill or be killed' Aged 18, Aimen travelled to a secluded mountainous spot in next 11 months learning how to build bombs. As a self-confessed bookworm and "nerd", the intellectual rigour and mathematical precision required for bomb making proved an exciting - albeit risky - endeavour for the teenager. Most read in The Sun 'I remember thinking this is so much fun, why didn't they teach chemistry like this at school?' he said. Joined by three other men - including Moez Fezzani, now an ISIS leader in Libya - he spent his days mixing highly toxic chemicals under the watchful leadership of vengeful chemist and terror mastermind Abu Khabab. Inside 7/7 The story behind Britain's worst ever terror attack Khabab was in charge of developing Al Qaeda's mass-casualty weapons and was linked to a series of Outside of building bombs, the group spent their time debating and listening to the radio. "We would just sit down and discuss everything endlessly. We would talk about what is wrong with the world. "We would reinforce each other's negative views and talk about the need for change and how this could only come if we tear the system down," Aimen recalled. With just a mattress on the floor to sleep on and little else but books to keep him occupied, the bunker was basic at best. I remember thinking this is so much fun, why didn't they teach chemistry like this at school? Aimen Dean Bombs and extremely toxic chemicals were stored in wooden shelves, which Aimen joked would have given any British health and safety inspector a heart attack. He said: 'We were dealing with chemicals all the time so they gave us lots of fruit to build up our resilience.' 'Khabab told us that your first mistake is your last mistake. He had two missing fingers to which I said, well you are testament of living to make another mistake. 'He said: 'it's idiots who came before you who did this. They are no longer here anymore - I was just collateral damage'". Your first mistake is your last mistake Terror leader, Abu Khabab But just under a year after Aimen joined the The devastating assault on U.S embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Tanzania resulted in 200 deaths and an estimated 4,000 wounded. According to Aimen, some 150 civilians were also blinded because the vans were 'loaded with shrapnel' to maximise death and destruction. 10 Aimen Dean was 17 when he met Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, pictured, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks Credit: AP 10 Firemen walk amid the smouldering rubble of the World Trade Center following 9/11 Credit: AFP New beginnings 'This is when I started to have doubts and I realised things were going in the wrong direction. "I realised it was about making gas canisters full of hydrogen cyanide to attack nightclubs and cinemas,' he said. 'My good moral compass and critical thinking kicked in. "I thought, what if I build something for someone that is then used on civilians? I disagreed completely with this," he added. When he raised his concerns with Khaleb, the "This is a jungle. Kill or be killed. The world only respects one language: terror.' Feigning sickness, Aimen was sent to Qatar where he renounced his oath to the terror group and decided he would never go back. I started to have doubts and I realised things were going in the wrong direction Aimen Dean Arriving in the country, he was questioned by security services as a suspected Al-Qaeda member. He cooperated by giving them a number he had memorised for an Al-Qaeda bank account. Delighted at having landed on an treasure trove of intelligence, the Qataris offered him the choice of being handed over to America, 'I felt little cultural affinity with the French and didn't speak the language. And I didn't trust the Americans either," said Aimen. Within nine days he had 'landed in the lap' of MI5, who he said enthusiastically whisked him back to the UK after quickly recognising his impressive knack for map reading and photographic memory. Arriving in the UK, he was offered a Coca-Cola which he tried for the first time (now, his favourite drink) and a Harry Potter book. The next six months were filled with long training days and getting to grips with English before being sent to live in a flat with an Al Qaeda operative in London. 10 Osama bin-Laden addresses a news conference in Afghanistan on May 26, 1998 Credit: Reuters 10 Aimen worked for the MI5 and MI6 for eight years, becoming one of the secret service's most audacious spies Credit: Supplied / Aimen Dean On becoming an informant for the British Secret Intelligence Service he said the best piece of advice he received was to just 'go and have fun'. During this time, Aimen hopped between homes and became close with his roommates by leaning on his superior intellect and offering them religious guidance. He said: 'I am generally theologically better trained than the average Al Qaeda person so I ended up being kind of like a spiritual coach. "It's a bit brutal but it means they will open their hearts and minds to me, which made my espionage much easier.' It wasn't long before Aimen was asked if we would go back to Afghanistan and acquire intelligence for the MI6. This is a jungle - kill or be killed. The world only respects one language: terror Abu Khabab After rigorous training, he returned to the Middle East pretending his return was so he could get back in touch with his spirituality. He spent the next eight years spying for MI5 and MI6, becoming one of the secret service's most audacious spies. When asked about any close calls, he told The Times about a period in 2001, when he was called to meet one of bin Laden's closest lieutenants. He feared they had clocked on but was instead asked to deliver a message to four "brothers" in London, instructing them to "leave the country". The message read: "They must leave the country and come here before September 1. Something big is going to happen and we expect the Americans to come to Afghanistan." Aimen was walking along Oxford street later that year when he learned of the terror attack on America's Twin Towers and remembered those haunting words: "something big". Not long after, he caught wind of a worrying plot engineered by his former leader Khabab to bomb the New York Subway. Thanks to Aimen's tip, news of the planned attack was passed to the Oval office and successfully foiled. When asked about any close calls, he recalled the time he was cooking at the military camp and suddenly felt the cold end of a pistol against his lower spine. "Someone said, that's it confess, we know who you are. We know who you are working with," he said. His thorough training had taught him how to detect a bluff, so he held his nerve. It later transpired the incident was a routine test. Did he ever feel scared? Nervous, yes, he said. But the trick is to always "forget you're spying". 10 Aimen has a brilliant photographic memory which he owes to hours spent reading growing up Credit: Supplied / Aimen Dean 10 On becoming an informant for the British Secret service he said the best piece of advice he received was to just 'go and have fun' Credit: Supplied / Aimen Dean
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment brazen thief caught stuffing golden OCTOPUS down her trousers in antiques store leaving owners baffled
WATCH the surprising moment a thief tries to steal a golden octopus from an antique shop - by stuffing it down her trousers. The unique strategy was captured on CCTV footage at Battlesbridge Antiques Centre in Essex. 4 The decor is available online for £40, leaving the owner baffled Credit: Rockett St George 4 The couple can be seen looking round the shop before he indicates the item to take Credit: Battlesbridge Antiques Centre / Facebook 4 She allegedly stole a golden octopus candlestick holder Credit: Battlesbridge Antiques Centre / Facebook 4 The brazen thief walked out with it after putting it down her trousers Credit: Battlesbridge Antiques Centre / Facebook Perhaps the most shocking part is that the Although the theft occurred on July 1, staff only noticed that the oddly-shaped candlestick holder had gone missing this week. After looking back through At the start of the footage, a man in an orange top can be seen browsing the shelves nearby. Read more News He then taps on the octopus candlestick holder, pointing it out to the woman he is with. The pair then continue to stand around idly looking at the shelves in the vicinity. As the man walks over to the rotating display of jewellery, the woman appears to be They try to act casual by appearing to browse other items around the shop. Most read in The Sun The woman then begins removing the candles from the display. She then starts to stuff the octopus under her trousers - not an easy feat given how large the sculpture is. 'Irish cannot handle spice' - Watch Katie Taylor struggle in hilarious challenge with TWO Hollywood A-listers The curve of its eight-legs seems to be giving her some trouble as she uses her top to hide the rest of it. A glint of gold can still be seen poking out of her jumper which she then attempts to Manager Claire Wade told She said that the husband had told the woman which Claire plans to report the incident to the police once they have reviewed all of the CCTV footage on site, as she has rented part of the centre for 15 years. She added: "We were just in shock, it's a great big thing to put down your trousers isn't it?" The item was only worth around £40 and can be bought online, as Claire said: "I don't know why she wanted it." They are using the incident as a warning to customers that they She said: "We want people to know that you can't just turn up at the centre and just help yourself. We're going to do a Commenters on the video were just as shocked by the behaviour as the owner was. One said: "Wow, very desperate and very sad." While another jokingly said: "Take it she didn't like the candles."
