Graffitied on to the wall of a holding cell, the words greeting incoming prisoners could hardly be more intimidating: ‘Welcome to hell’.
And whoever inscribed the message wasn’t talking about the accommodation, the staff or the regime at HMP Frankland – but their fellow inmates.
The category A jail in County Durham is known for housing some of Britain’s most dangerous and reviled prisoners.
Many of the 800 men locked up there are murderers, high-risk sex offenders or those convicted of terrorism-related offences.
Charles Bronson, the nation’s most notorious prisoner, and Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, were held there.
Current inmates include serial killer and rapist Levi Bellfield, who murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler, and Michael Adebolajo, who was convicted of the brutal murder of British soldier Lee Rigby.
The most high-profile recent arrival was Urfan Sharif, 43, who is serving a life sentence for torturing and murdering his ten-year-old daughter, Sara.
He was moved to the jail after being slashed with the jagged lid of a tuna tin by two inmates at a high-security prison in London and is said to fear a follow-up attack.
Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens and his victim Sarah Everard, who he murdered in 2021
But of all the at-risk prisoners at Frankland one name stands out from the rest – Wayne Couzens.
This week marks the fourth anniversary of the 52-year-old’s arrest for a crime so shocking it sparked protests and demonstrations around the country.
In 2021, Sarah Everard was walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south-west London,...
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