PRISON bosses are seizing almost 30 illegal mobile phones from inmates every day.
Figures show more than 10,000 were uncovered in jails last year — with the gadgets increasingly smuggled in by drones.
2
2
Some are being used by inmates to taunt their victims online and boast about their crimes.
Bosses have also managed to shut down 3,546 social media accounts linked to serving prisoners in the past ten years.
Inmates are using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, X and others to become internet influencers, set up dates with women on their release and brag about their cushy conditions behind bars.
Only last week, The Sun revealed that zombie knife thug Robbie Scott, 22, who blinded a dad in one eye with acid during an attempted robbery, had shared a rap video from his prison cell in HMP Manchester.
The TikTok video, in which Scott — who is serving eight years and six months — glorifies violence, was posted under the name “HMP harder rapper Robdog”.
Victim Paul Laskey, 43, who came to the aid of his teen son as Scott tried to rob him, was squirted with a mixture of battery acid and superglue and has lost the use of his left eye.
He said: “Scott is supposed to be in prison to be punished, not trying to start a music career. It’s disgraceful and must be stopped.”
Some social media accounts brought to the attention of prison chiefs are being updated by inmates’ pals on the outside.
But hundreds are flouting jail regulations by using contraband mobiles. One mystery inmate posted cooking videos from his cell, including using a kettle as a deep fat fryer.
Another put clips up of him interviewing infamous lags about their crimes.
Prisoners can be given an extra 42 days on their sentence if caught with a mobile but often have privileges removed.
Guidelines say all cells should be searched monthly at least, but staff shortages mean this often does not happen.
