The brazen prisoners who just didn't learn and broke the law again behind bars

Criminals won't always change their ways because they've been sent to prison

Criminals won't always change their ways because they've been put behind bars. Some brazenly continue their illicit activities while confined to prison, despite being under the watchful eye of prison guards.

One inmate strangled his cellmate as he slept, before launching a brutal shower attack on another prisoner. Another killed a fellow offender with a single punch.

The discovery of two handmade weapons during a cell inspection saw one criminal handed extra jail time, while another had time added to his sentence when a racket to smuggle cannabis and tobacco into jail was rumbled. You can read more about the individual cases in our round-up below.

READ MORE: The gobby crooks who mouthed off in court as their fate was revealed

Michael Harkin

This prisoner strangled his cellmate to death with a TV aerial cord after developing the 'delusional belief that he was a paedophile'. Michael Harkin killed Dan Childs as he slept then tucked him up in his bunk bed.

The next morning, Harkin walked out of the cell 'as if nothing had happened', before slashing his former cellmate in the showers with an improvised blade. Bristol Crown Court heard the second victim had shared a cell with Harkin for just one night before demanding he was as "there was something not right" about him.

The court was also told that prior to his death, Mr Childs, who was originally from Telford, had told another inmate that Harkin had threatened to kill him if he fell asleep. Psychiatrists concluded Harkin was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attacks and had developed delusions about religion.

He was convicted of the manslaughter of Mr Childs by diminished responsibility by a jury, which had cleared him of murder on the direction of the judge. Harkin was also found guilty of wounding the other prisoner, and not guilty of a separate count of attempting to wound a member of prison staff who sought to intervene. A hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act and a restriction order under Section 41 – meaning Harkin can be detained indefinitely - was imposed by Mr Justice Bryan.

Abdi Rehman Esa

A single punch saw this offender charged with manslaughter and his sentence increased by six years. Abdi Rehman Esa attacked John Smith at HMPYOI Brinsford in Featherstone on December 5, 2020, causing a serious head injury.

The 26-year-old was taken to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, and then to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died the following day.

A police investigation established that Esa had punched his victim once, resulting in catastrophic injuries. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed for a further two years and seven months - with a further 10 months on extended license - at Stafford Crown Court on April 21., 2021.

However the sentence was formally challenged and referred to the Attorney General, and during a hearing on June 25, 2021, it was increased to six years in prison, with a further four years on extended licence.

Kile Straker

This Wolverhampton dad blasted a judge as he was sent back to prison, telling her: "You have just f***** up my life." Kile Straker had been caught with a mobile phone in his prison cell at HMP Birmingham in December 2022 and had used the device to call his friends and family over Christmas.

Although he'd been released and was said to be making good progress, he was handed a 17-week custodial sentence after he admitted possessing a mobile phone in prison. This prompted the foul-mouthed crook to say "f**k you" to Recorder Amy Jacobs, who had concluded he had 'not learnt his lesson' having previously been convicted for having a USB device in prison.

Benjamin Lawless

Extra jail time was handed to this inmate after staff made a chilling discovery inside his cell. Benjamin Lawless was found with two handmade weapons during an inspection of his room.

The "sharp piece of metal" was uncovered by staff at HMP Stoke Heath on January 21 this year. A "sharpened bolt" was discovered five days later.

Lawless, who was already serving a 32-month sentence for battery, possession of an offensive weapon and attempted robbery, was given a 15-month sentence for being found in possession of the two weapons at Shrewsbury Crown Court on July 24. The sentence would run consecutively with his 32-month sentence.

Eric Pearce

A racket to smuggle cannabis and tobacco into jail saw this prisoner receive extra jail time, while a female visitor was also sentenced. Staff at HMP Oakwood, near Wolverhampton, became suspicious when they noticed Eric Pearce and Alice Thursfield monitoring officers during a visit in August 2022.

Pearce was later searched and packages of cannabis, which had an estimated street value of up to £270, was found, along with tobacco. Pearce was sentenced to six-months imprisonment, to run consecutively to his existing prison term, for causing another person to bring a list ‘A’ prohibited article into a prison.

Thursfield, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. Both admitted offences at an earlier court hearing and were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court on August 22 this year.