Part 17 (2/2)

DAY 69 TUESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2001

900 aoes up froin a 'spin' - cell search

I didn't get to pottery yesterday because of ain today

We've just been told to stay in our cells, as a search is about to be conducted following the snooker hall incident on Sunday I fail to see how a prisoner throwing a snooker ball at another in searched two days later However, it's Shane (GBH, gym orderly) who tells me that when they 'spun' the assailant's cell, they found a nine-inch blade hidden under his overnor has ordered a co 112 cells takes the duty officers a little over two hours Mr Shepperson and a colleague spend ten minutes in my cell only to discover that I have two io has givenon Thursday They don't co foraround in rass outside is littered with different objects that have been thrown out of the s since the shout of 'Burglars' went up

Apparently it's s and other banned substances, but despite a further search ast the rubbish, no other knives or blades are discovered

When the 'spin' is over, I'el, (GBH, race relations rep, known as the Preacher - see plate section), has had a carpet rereen paint An officer confirms that no other knives were found on our spur which surprises Darren, although he won't tell me why

The most common object removed from the cells turns out to be TV remote controls For some inexplicable reason, re-free block)

Result? D blockers trade their reic

12 noon Exercise After half an hour of poalking in the fresh air, Darren and I return to the block As he strolls back through the gate, his eyes light on his two pots of sea-green paint standing in the hallway I'm afraid I can't resist it

I pick them both up and deposit them back in his cell He immediately hides the that should any officer discover they're , the first cell they would search would be his, and he could end up on report If he hears nothing for twenty-four hours he'll feel it's safe to retrieve them So much happens in prison every day, that it's not unlike a national newspaper Yesterday's big story is quickly replaced by so the staff's irees it's the first ti for him

600 p to visit me on Friday He tellsto in to think that I'll be in Wayland for the rest of my life

DAY 70 WEDNESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2001

900 am

Pottery It's Anne's birthday She's areed now that it is to be thought of as a flowerpot) and says that it must be left to dry for teeks before it can be placed in the kiln

Another of the tutors has brought in a box of crayons for Shaun When I leave the art roo which, to my surprise, the officers don't bother to look inside I then walk out onto the exercise yard and, in front of several other officers, stroll across to theof Shaun's cell on C block and pass the crayons through the bars, dropping them on his bed Only yesterday ere all searched for a knife Todayprison logic I adht soyby practice Mr Harley has selected a team of possibles v probables for the first match next week, which he asks her than I had expected An Afro-Caribbean inmate picks up a ball that is passed to his toes at full speed and carves his way through a bunch of thugs and ers well for next week

When we return to the changing rooame before How much talent is there in this country that we just don't find out about, let alone nurture?

Another prisoner standing next to me in the shower is six foot nine, and was one of the second roards (surprise, surprise) He'sabout my trial, which he describes as a diabolical liberty As I never discuss ot four years,' he said, 'for burglary - with five hundred and two, yeah, five hundred and two,' he repeats, 'other offences to be taken into consideration'

DAY 71 THURSDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2001

800 a for Heathroithin the hour We agree that I will call hiota He tells me that there is at least 7 left on his BT phonecard, which ought to be enough for him to let me know that he has arrived safely and put in et The Card Players for 400,000?

900 am Pottery Shaun spends two hours, with two ten- position, and wearing his grey prison tracksuit This is his best effort yet He'll add the head next week He now has only Steve (conspiracy to murder, library orderly) and Ji) left to draever, as Steve rarely leaves the library, Ji on the farm and Shaun is due to be released in four weeks' ti I will not see the final e until Shaun has presented his portfolio to ent, Jonathan Lloyd

330 pate the yard, Darren tells me about a prisoner as transferred to Iittlehey early this ht be in danger if he remained at Wayland He had already been shi+pped out of Blunderstone Prison earlier thisbeaten up on a regular basis

”When he arrived here' Darren continues, 'he clai a taxi driver, which few of us believed It just didn't add up,' he added without further explanation By noe've completed two circuits and I'm none the wiser as to what this is all about But Darren is enjoying keeping me in suspense

The unnamed prisoner lasted on C block for only a few days before they torched his cell, and set fire to all his belongings, so he was quickly ation of prisoners paid a visit to the principal officer (Mr Tinkler), telling him that if the man was still on the block after the weekend, they could not be responsible for his safety ”What is he in for?' I ask, unable to contain my curiosity 'Ah, I see I still have your attention,' comments Darren, 'even if I haven't learnt to curtail your impatience' He pauses dramatically 'He hascommitted a crime for which his fellow prisoners would show no mercy' Darren covers a few more yards before he adds, ”He kidnapped and raped a thirteen-year-old girl So they've finally moved him to a prison where he will be safe, because he'll only be locked up with other nonces'

600 pn an order freezing all accounts to which Osama bin Laden has access