To wonder What's it like in prison as a category A prisoner child sex offender

[toothfairy73]

The man that abused me and at least 5 others (there will be many more) was convicted as a category A prisoner last year. He got 16 years but can apply for parole after 8. The Judge described him as a serial predatory paedophile (he was convicted of crimes over a 30 year period).

I got an update from the victim liaison officer today (just an annual one) which doesn't tell me much (I'm not allowed to know much). I did wonder (before I opened it) if he had died of coronavirus. He is in his 70's and has cancer. It's left me wondering what life is like for a category A convicted child rapist. I have read that prisoners can have jobs, but wonder if the restrictions are greater for category A. Does anyone know?

He was still grooming at 72; his character witness said in court how good he was with his girls and how he would take them to the theatre. This is what he did with us. He may be old but us still high risk. 30 years of offending (that we know about)

This is him

www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/17403818.paedophile-michael-murphy-jailed-for-rape-and-sex-abuse-of-girls/



Hopefully it'll be hell.

Again here; we had to go through 2 trials (3 not guilty counts and a hung jury) for him to be convicted. Only got some justice for 3 of the 5 of us.

He’s in his 70s and has cancer. The prison service is also on lockdown, in cells most of the day. It would be even harder if the weather get warmer, the cells get really hot.
You say he might be out in 8 years?
I doubt it. I’d imagine he’ll dead by then. I honestly don’t think he will make it to release, if that’s any consolation.
He will die having the dishonour of being a disgusting vile sex offender.

@JediJim here's hoping. He is not safe in the community

OP, also note that although he might be eligible to apply for parole in 8 years, that doesn't mean it will be granted.

@JediJim on the hottest day of the year last year, every time I felt hot I thought it must be terrible to be locked up in this heat 😂

@RochelleGoyle I'm hoping others will come forward and get justice for themselves too. That way he will never get out

I’d be really surprised if he makes it to release seriously. Going to prison at that age takes its toll both physically and mentally, as it’s a complete lifestyle change. Contrary to popular belief, prisons are not holiday camps. He’ll have his whole life under control. He can’t just pop to the shops to buy a pint of milk when he feels like it. Most of the UK population find this lockdown difficult, imagine be confined to a cell, probably with someone else who you may not get on with. Oh, and just think, when his cell mate needs a shit, they could be having dinner. Not the nicest way to have a meal, sitting 6 ft away from someone on the toilet!!
Look at Max Clifford. He went to jail as an old man and died after a relatively short while.

OP - I am so sorry for what you went through but it was so brave and strong of you to get justice. I can't believe you had to go through 2 trials - this is proof that you are incredibly tough and if you can get through that, there's nothing you can't achieve.

I recognise the man from the guardian article. I don't know if the girl's story in the guardian was yours or one of the other girls but I don't have words for how impressed by you I am for getting justice over something so distressing

I hope that he either suffers horribly for a protracted period or dies soon so he's no longer in the world depending which would make you feel better about his situation

@DKanin it was me

Thank you.

Thank you for for your bravery and determination in ensuring that this evil man is behind bars where he can no longer hurt anyone.

So sorry for the 2 who didn't get their justice. I hope they can find some closure in the fact that at least he is locked away now. I hope they know I believe them. And that it may well have been a technicality/ lack of evidence rather than not believing them (I don't know the case).

I hope you and others who are living with this and similar crimes, whether or not they've felt able to report the crimes against them, are getting the love and support you deserve.

There is no movement in the prison system at the moment due to COVID 19 but in usual times he would go in as Cat A but they would then be seeking to down categorize him as soon as possible.

This doesn't mean he isn't a high risk offender - it means he isn't dangerous to other inmates and prison staff - Cat A is usually terrorists, gang offenders, people who are violent within prison.

So you can be very high risk to the public and still be Cat C if you see what I mean. Most people like him would be in a Cat C specialist prison.

He would be held as a VP and have no contact with anyone else who wasn't a VP - there are many many sex offenders unfortunately to the extent there are whole prisons just for sex offenders so he will not be living in fear of being attacked.

Healthcare for prisoners also has to be equal to that of non-prisoners - you do get treated for cancer if you are a prisoner, regardless of what you are in prison for although it can be challenging to do it.

However and I hope this reassures the OP - he is 72 and has a 16 year sentence. Even if he got parole first time he would be 80 - it is very rare, especially given the nature of his offending and that he was offending right up to conviction, for people to get parole first time. So add some years on to that, he'll be older than 80.

Plus now he has been convicted, with the publicity these men do have additional cases brought against them while they are in prison. So he may get extra years. Add a few years on for that.

Even if he did get released, he'd be a very very old man - say 85, living far away from you, under tight parole conditions. Recalls back to prison are very common. So he may end up back in prison.

What he has is effectively a life sentence. Well done OP. You are indeed a Warrior Woman.

I cannot understand why prison officers, working with the worst human beings in our society, those deemed unsafe and unfit to walk amongst the rest of us, are not given the financial reward or recognition they deserve.

Even in the 'key worker' praise, they don't get a mention.
It's not a job I could do, but those that do it deserve better than they get.

@AnnaMagnani Thank you ❤️. It's hard for the 2 that didn't get justice; he was found not guilty of the only thing he was charged in relation to them, not the only thing he did. They only charge where the evidence is strong enough. He was also found not guilty of the most serious offence against me that he was charged with; not the most serious thing he did. That hurts. He has literally gotten away with those things. Due to double jeopardy he could not be retried for those counts. The second jury found him guilty on every count and I have no doubt If they had sat the first time he would have been convicted of those too. The first jury let us down. Two members of the jury fell asleep and one jury member sat looking at her nails. Others were in tears at our evidence. Everyone in that court room thought he was going to prison. They had so much evidence, bags of it, and 5 mostly independent victims. It was a hot July and they just wanted to be out in the sunshine.

We have done a number of things in the press (TV and newspaper coverage) to encourage others to come forward - there will be many many many more especially given his links with the music industry). I just want his name and face (as it's a very common name) out there.
See
warriorwoman.blog/news/

Not a clicky link for me

@bobstersmum is the link not working? Or do you mean it would be too triggering?

Hi op.
I haven’t read the thread but I can tell you what it’s like in a small Cat A prison.
A sex offender is housed in the vulnerable persons wing.
There will be no contact with the other wings.
(Detox/drugs wing & main block)

The one I have been in is much tidier and quieter than the other wings.
Vulnerable people will also be famous people that are inside or inmates that are deemed to be small/weak.

I have a friend who works with cat A prisoners and she says it's not a nice existence. Hope that helps.
for you

@ihatethecold @Ladybirdbookworm thank you. I know initially he was held at Belmarsh (and he was held there between verdict and sentencing overnight as case was at Woolwich Crown Court). I've heard horrible things about Belmarsh. I know he is not in London any more but that is all.

When we got the verdict they judge said he had to think overnight about the sentence as we were terrified they would let him out overnight. When the judge said he would remand him in Belmarsh overnight; we collectively said "YES"!. Went off to have celebratory tea and cake with the detective and my family and I had a a curry and champagne to celebrate. Having said that I came crashing down that night; it still happened. But at least he is where he needs to be, didn't think I would/could ever do this. Can't believe I did, and now he is in prison because of me. It feels amazing.

"@Sunshineonarainy1day I'm afraid I couldn't sleep at night if I had your job of 'protecting' paedophiles. "

S/he's protecting society , including children, FROM those paedophiles.

@StoneofDestiny it's the forgotten service. That will never change.

Numerous posters on this thread for example calling Prison Officers "guards" don't know if "Warders" have made a trip out yet.

And then you've got the pp who thinks Prison Officers shouldn't be able to sleep at night as they are "paedophile protectors".

No, it's YOU that shouldn't be able to sleep at night, abusing Prison Officers who keep you safe every minute of every day whilst dealing with things you couldn't even imagine. Disgusting

@Brownyblonde

"I have heard rumours that guards can be a bit 'oops' with hiding what they're in for from other prisoners and also that they may turn a blind eye to witnessing an attack on them. Please nobody burst my bubble"

Just here to burst your bubble with a massive pin. Load of old bollocks and people like you spreading that shit just makes the most difficult of jobs harder. And it's "Officers" not "guards".