Taxpayers Pay £70 For Taxi To Collect Prisoner's Clothes
Prisoner could not appear at Northampton Crown Court because he was wearing a multi-coloured ‘escape suit’
18th September 2008
A taxi had to be ordered to collect some clothes for a prisoner so his human rights would not be breached – costing taxpayers £70.
Prison staff at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, sent Barry McGlone, 20, to the hearing wearing the high-visibility "escape suit".
Charged with escaping, he was made to wear the harlequin "clown suit", reserved for offenders who have a history of escape, yet was provided with no alternative clothing.
When McGlone did arrive at court, GSL security staff would not allow him off the prison van wearing the suit, as it amounted to "a breach of his human rights" and "broke the rules".
The costly hearing was about to be adjourned to another day when his barrister, Steven Evans, asked that, if a change of clothes could be provided, the hearing might continue.
So a taxi was called and travelled to HMP Woodhill to collect clothes – a grey singlet and jeans – so McGlone could be allowed off the prison bus and into the building and courtroom.
Michael Ellis, a Northampton-based barrister, said: "Who makes up these extraordinary rules?
"It's an outrageous abuse of strained public funds.
"It would have been cheaper for someone to have gone to Primark to buy his clothes, rather than go to Milton Keynes by taxi and pick them up.
"I would have done it myself, had someone asked."
Mr Evans told Judge Thomas Corrie: "There have been difficulties this morning, as the defendant was not allowed off the bus because he was wearing the clown suit reserved for anybody who has a charge of escape on their record.
"I was told he was going to be returned to prison, as it was a breach of his human rights to be seen in public in that suit and a breach of the rules, but I'm not sure what rules.
"His clothes were put in a taxi and driven over here, so they are not of his choosing and he wants to apologise for his attire."
Judge Corrie said: "Common sense usually prevails. The real problem is whether there was to be a trial and it may influence a jury. It won't happen again."
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Evans said: "It's ironic that clothes which were designed to be seen were not actually seen by the prison authorities.
"I'm not sure what rules it contravened."
McGlone, of Occupation Road in Corby, pleaded guilty to escape and assault and was sentenced to a total of eight months' detention.
Source; Northampton Chronicle & Echo
ALSO;
Taxpayers Foot The £70 Bill For A Cab To Avoid Breach Of Violent Prisoner's 'Human Rights'
18th September 2008
Taxpayers will have to pick up the bill for up to £70 for a taxi so a defendant could be properly dressed for his court hearing and avoid a 'breach of his human rights'.
Prison staff at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes, sent Barry McGlone, 20, to Northampton Crown Court wearing the high-visibility 'escape suit'.
Charged with escaping, he was made to wear the harlequin 'clown suit', reserved for offenders who have a history of escape. But he was provided with no alternative clothing.
When McGlone did arrive at court, GSL security staff would not allow him off the prison van wearing the suit, as it amounted to 'a breach of his human rights' and 'broke the rules'.
Staff at HMP Woodhill breached defendant Barry McGlone's human rights by sending him to court in a high visibility 'clown suit'. Taxpayers were forced to foot a £70 taxi bill to deliver more suitable attire to Mr McGlone
The costly hearing was about to be adjourned to another day when his barrister, Steven Evans, asked that, if a change of clothes could be provided, the hearing might continue.
So a taxi was called and travelled to HMP Woodhill to collect clothes - a grey singlet and jeans - so McGlone could be allowed off the prison bus and into the building and courtroom.
Michael Ellis, a Northampton-based barrister, said: 'Who makes up these extraordinary rules? 'It's an outrageous abuse of strained public funds.
'It would have been cheaper for someone to have gone to Primark to buy his clothes, rather than go to Milton Keynes by taxi and pick them up.
'I would have done it myself, had someone asked.'
Mr Evans told Judge Thomas Corrie: 'There have been difficulties this morning, as the defendant was not allowed off the bus because he was wearing the clown suit reserved for anybody who has a charge of escape on their record.
'I was told he was going to be returned to prison, as it was a breach of his human rights to be seen in public in that suit and a breach of the rules, but I'm not sure what rules.
'His clothes were put in a taxi and driven over here, so they are not of his choosing and he wants to apologise for his attire.'
Judge Corrie said: 'Common sense usually prevails. The real problem is whether there was to be a trial and it may influence a jury. It won't happen again.'
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Evans said: 'It's ironic that clothes which were designed to be seen were not actually seen by the prison authorities.
'I'm not sure what rules it contravened.'
McGlone, of Occupation Road in Corby, pleaded guilty to escape and assault and was sentenced to a total of eight months' detention.
McGlone was arrested after assaulting a drinker outside a Northamptonshire pub.
CCTV footage caught him punching John McArthur outside the Village Inn, Corby, on August 17.
At Corby police station, an officer released his handcuffs and let him into the yard for fresh air.
But McGlone jumped on to a garage roof and ran off.
Rebecca Wade, prosecuting, said that several days later McGlone's father called to say his son, in hospital with a fractured heel and ankle ligament damage from his leap, wanted to hand himself in.
Judge Corrie said: 'Those who escape from lawful custody, especially when there's a breach of trust, and the officer was being kind to you, can only result in a custodial sentence.'
Steven Evans, defending McGlone, said: 'It was an impulsive act and he recognises it was stupid.'
The case carries echoes of a previous debacle when in June, a prison van spent three hours on a 110-mile round trip from Cambridge to convey a prisoner 200 yards across the road .
The journey, from Northampton Crown Court to the town's Magistrates' Court across Upper Mounts, would have taken less than a minute by foot.
A police spokesman said at the time: 'It would be inappropriate for prisoners to walk in a public area while in custody for many reasons, including public safety and the prisoner's human rights.'
Source; Mail Online
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