A murderer is leading a human rights claim over cold prison conditions which could potentially end up costing taxpayers almost £1 million.
Barry Hillman claims a lack of central heating and hot water at HMP Littlehey contravened European human rights legislation.
As reported by The Sun, the 42-year-old is one of four test claimants at the prison, with a total of 29 convicts alleging they have suffered 'extreme bodily discomfort', which at its worst - in 2018 - led to hygiene issues and illness.
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During this period, inmates were given portable heaters, hot water bottles, thermal underwear, duvets and soup to help them keep warm, and The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has insisted that all possible measures were taken to counter any discomfort.
If the criminals' claims are successful, lawyers have said they could receive up to £30,000 each, which would total £870,000.
Test claimant Hillman was jailed in 2002 for beating to death a pizza delivery man, and for rape while on leave from prison in 2012.
The MoJ will fight the claims at Central London county court, with a date yet to be fixed.
Meanwhile, Charles Bronson and his son are attempting to raise £32,500 to buy a caravan for him to live in if – or when, as they put it – he is released from prison.
Bronson, who is Britain’s longest serving prisoner having spent nearly half a century inside, recently won the right to have his parole held in public, the first time that has been granted.
Despite a history of violence within the prison system, Bronson claims that he has now turned himself around and proven himself rehabilitated, hoping that he will be released to live out his days by the seaside.
His hearing was expected to take place last year, but was pushed back into this year before Christmas, which he wasn’t exactly pleased with, but at least that offers time for him to fund the money to buy himself a caravan, if the JustGiving page set up by his son George Bamby is anything to go by.
On that JustGiving page, it states: “Charles Bronson is the UK’s most longest serving prisoner.
“He has campaigned for prison reform throughout his life, taken on the prison system and never backed down with anything that he believes in.
“He has been in prison for 48 years.
“Charlie has been labelled as the UK’s most violent and notorious prisoner, an image he has been trying very hard to get rid of.
“On March 6 2023 [although this date has yet to be fully verified] Charles Bronson (Now known as Charles Salvador) will be standing in front of the UK parole board with the hope of finally being released from custody and given the chance at freedom that he so much deserves.
“He is 70 years old in a few months and just wants to get out of prison and enjoy his remaining years as a pensioner, living in a caravan in Devon by himself near his family.”
Jake Massey