‘Monster Mansion’ inmates complain as £300 birthday parcels delayed at Wakefield

An official report into Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire highlights continuing complaints about delays in the ‘incentives scheme’ birthday parcels at the notorious jail which has housed Britain’s most dangerous criminals

Inmates at the infamous prison known as ‘Monster Mansion’ are fuming over delays in the delivery of their £300 ‘Birthday Parcels’.

An official report into Wakefield prison in West Yorkshire – which has previously housed Ian Huntley, Harold Shipman and Charlie Bronson – underscores ongoing grievances about the ‘incentives scheme’. Current inmates include Roy Whiting, Sarah Payne’s murderer; Mark Bridger, who killed five-year-old April Jones, and Reynhard Siniga, a serial rapist.

The parcels, funded by family members and loved ones, were introduced for long-term prisoners as an ‘incentive’ to promote good behaviour. The Independent Monitoring Board commented on the “Birthday Parcels Scheme,” launched two years ago as an ‘incentive’ for long-term inmates: “We remain concerned that prisoners do not receive ‘in possession’ property from reception in a timely manner.”

“Since October 2024, prisoners can apply for new clothing annually around their birthday under the ‘Birthday Parcel’ scheme. Linked to the incentives scheme, they can receive up to £300-worth of clothing, based on their status.”

They stated that the scheme had become “very popular among prisoners.” They added: “In November 2024, the prison clarified its policy on prisoners’ property and volumetric control, making it easier for both prisoners and staff to manage permitted items.

“Since January, the procedures for prisoners receiving books have been clarified. The prison has improved its systems for transferring property to a receiving prison within the 28-day timeframe, leading to a reduction in complaints in this area.

“However, property remains the second most complained-about issue in the prison, and the number of property-related complaints has increased from 423 last year to 501 this reporting year.”

In January, the Mirror disclosed that convicted murderers and terrorists had triumphed in a fight for taxpayer-funded compensation and legal costs, estimated at one million pounds, for being kept in solitary confinement.

Three extremists and a gangland triple murderer have successfully argued that solitary confinement in prison is unlawful.

Justice Secretary David Lammy sanctioned £7,500 in compensation, plus £234,000 in legal costs, for double murderer Fuad Awale, who also took a prison officer hostage.

Denny De Silva, sentenced to a minimum term of 27 years for murder, was awarded £255,000 in legal costs after arguing that isolating him from other prisoners made him feel overly anxious.

Triple murderer Kevan Thakrar also won damages. Claire Lewis, the former prison officer and campaigner attacked by Thakrar in prison, criticised the award and treatment of prisoners incarcerated for the most serious crimes.

“It is outrageous,” she said. A spokesperson for the Prison Service stated that any items received by prisoners were funded by their family members and procured solely from approved suppliers. “As with all mail, these go through mandatory security checks before being issued to prisoners,” they added. Under this scheme, families are required to buy items from approved suppliers instead of sending clothes directly. These items are then dispatched to the prison and subjected to compulsory search procedures.