‘My son’s face is destroyed after jail struggle left him needing 1,000 stitches’
A mother has been left “terrified” for her son after claiming his face and arm was slashed so badly in a prison fight he required 1,000 stitches.
Rhian Thomas’ son, Callum Thomas was one of three inmates at Parc prison in Bridgend who were taken to hospital on Friday, May 31, following the incident at the troubled jail.
The 26-year-old was caught up in the fight as a 20 prisoner-strong riot broke out, although the private security firm running Parc, G4S, say the two incidents were unrelated, reports WalesOnline.
READ MORE: Inside ‘mayhem’ UK jail where 10 inmates died in 3 months – ‘zombie’ drug to riots
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The prison was already under intense scrutiny following 10 sudden inmate deaths in just over three months, including at least four which are believed to be drug related.
(Image: John Myers)
Rhain, 43, told WalesOnline that an inmate used a flick knife to slash her son four times to the face. She claims he was cut from his right elbow down to his wrist, causing ligament and tendon damage which has left him unable to use his right hand.
The mum has been unable to sleep since learning of her son’s injuries and feels “terrified” for his safety in the prison. She said: “Callum’s face is destroyed. One of the cuts is from his ear to his mouth. He’s very depressed, he’s in pain and he’s scared. He told me, ‘I need to get out of this jail, Mam.’”
Callum Thomas was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2021 after being convicted by a jury of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and having an offensive weapon, a baseball bat. The attack left the victim, Adam Harcombe, disabled.
Ms Thomas says her son recognises he seriously hurt Mr Harcombe but wants to “go forward” in his life and has completed courses in prison, achieving 13 certificates and acting as a mentor for inmates who are struggling with their mental health. “The prisoners are in there to do their time for what they’ve done, yes,” she said. “But they should be protected when they’re in there.”
(Image: Media Wales)
According to his mum, Callum was involved in an altercation with another prisoner last Thursday, which she believes may have been linked to the knife attack the following day. She says the fight on Thursday involved Callum supporting his brother Declan, who is also an inmate, in a dispute with another prisoner.
A third prisoner was involved in the fight, and it’s understood all three were taken to the hospital.
It’s understood Callum was attacked shortly before the riot, which started around 4.30pm in a different unit of the same wing and involved prisoners flipping over ping pong tables and pouring cooking oil onto the floor.
Ms Thomas wants her son to be moved out of Parc immediately. “Callum’s told me that since he’s been in there, it’s got a lot worse. It’s full of drugs, the guards are taking drugs in and supplying prisoners and earning money from it. I worry he will never come out, and he’ll end up dead or really disabled. I’ve never known a prison like it.”
(Image: Media Wales)
A spokesman for G4S said: “Our hardworking staff swiftly resolved one short-lived incident and a completely unrelated altercation between three prisoners on Friday. We have robust security measures in place to prevent contraband entering the prison and do random and intelligent-led searches”
A South Wales Police spokesman said the force is investigating “three assaults involving serving prisoners” that happened on Friday, adding: “None of the injuries sustained are life-threatening. No arrests have been made at this time with the investigation ongoing and in its early stages.”
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