Inside 'Monster Mansion' HMP Frankland - infamous inmates, mobiles, cell rules

13 October 2023 , 15:49

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HMP Frankland is dubbed 'Monster Mansion' as it houses some of the most sadistic criminals in Britain (Image: BBC)

It's housed some of Britain's most notorious criminals, including serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, murderer Ian Huntley and serial rapist Delroy Grant, and now HMP Frankland has let a camera crew inside to give the public an insight into life behind its bars.

A documentary on the men's maximum security prison, in County Durham, airs on Channel 5 tonight, showcasing where some of the most sadistic British criminals are locked up and what their everyday routine looks like. Frankland is home to more than 800 prisoners and has been dubbed 'Monster Mansion' due to many of its inmates being convicted murderers, high-risk sex offenders and those guilty of terrorism-related offences.

Inside 'Monster Mansion' HMP Frankland - infamous inmates, mobiles, cell rules eiqeeiqdeidrhinv

Prisoners at Frankland are all male, above the age of 21 and serving sentences of four years or more (ITV)

Frankland opened in 1983 and only holds male prisoners who are over 21 years of age, and whose sentence is usually four years or more, as well as life sentences and high-risk remand prisoners. Some of the most notorious prisoners include serial killer Levi Bellfield and killer-rapist cop Wayne Couzens. Other inmates include Lee Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo, nail bomber David Copeland and Sally Anne Bowman's murderer Mark Dixie. They are all housed in single cells that include a TV, washbasin and toilet facilities. Prisoners are rewarded for their good behaviour with game consoles and DVD players.

In April this year, it was reported that phones were being installed in cells so prisoners wouldn't have to queue to speak to relatives and contacts on the outside. Some called it a 'terrible' idea and said the scheme could be 'abused'. However former Scotland Yard detective, Peter Bleksley, said giving a phone to a prisoner who is serving a short sentence and plans to rebuild life afterwards "is not a bad idea".

He added: "The idea that monsters like Huntley and Bellfield are getting phones in their cells is outrageous. I can see it being abused." A source told The Sun at the time: "The prisoners are really excited. It seems like a massive project with loads of workmen on site. They seem to be spending a lot of money on what could be seen as a luxury." A Prison Service spokesman told the Mirror that "phone use in prisons is subject to strict time limits, risk assessments and monitoring".

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Inside 'Monster Mansion' HMP Frankland - infamous inmates, mobiles, cell rules

Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was serving a whole-life term at Frankland before he died in 2020 (SWNS)

Evil murderer Ian Huntley remains in Frankland after killing two 10-year-old girls in a 'fit of rage' (PA)

In June, Frankland made headlines when an inmate was engaged in a dramatic stand-off with police on the roof of the prison - wearing just his pants. Three officers in riot gear and a negotiator were sent to deal with the incident. Images taken by Chronicle Live showed a man lying on the roof of the prison wearing only his underpants and black trainers as he spoke to officers during the tense showdown. A Prison Service spokesperson said at the time: "Staff are urgently working to bring the prisoner down safely."

Serial killer Sutcliffe was moved to the high security prison in August 2016 after spending three decades at Broadmoor secure unit. The murderer was given 20 life sentences in 1981 after admitting to murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven more. In November 2020, Sutcliffe died of coronavirus while serving the whole-life term at Frankland.

Evil Huntley murdered 10-year-old girls Holly Marie Wells and Jessica Aimee Chapman, in their home town of Soham, Cambridgeshire. The school caretaker enticed them into his home before killing them in what police believe was a fit of rage. Huntley remains in Frankland. In 2018, a confession recorded behind bars was leaked to The Sun, in which Huntley apologised for the immense pain he caused and begged for forgiveness, saying: "I think about them every day."