Sir Alan Beith demands probe into prison facebook scandal

Jan 17 2010 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

PRISON bosses are to be quizzed by a top North MP to find out how a killer is contacting friends on Facebook from behind bars.

Tony Blades was jailed for 12 years last May after he was convicted of knifing Anthony Blakelock in a County Durham street.

Yet it seems the 19-year-old, who carried out the killing while awaiting trial for a separate stabbing, is managing to stay in touch with pals – and make new ones.

He is apparently on the social networking site, despite serving time at HMP Castington in Northumberland.

We revealed last week how Blades, of Murton, County Durham, has Facebook and Bebo accounts, which he appears to be using to befriend women across the region.

The apparent security abuse has infuriated Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith, who has vowed to hold top level meetings with the Ministry of Justice, which oversees all UK prisons.

The Lib Dem MP, who is also chairman of the House of Commons Justice Committee, said: “It looks like something has gone badly wrong in the system and clearly this is not acceptable.

“Castington is a Young Offenders Institute and it’s important they are properly equipped to get jobs and find a way to a life without crime when they get out.

“But that does not include using Facebook. Computer activity has got to be carefully controlled.”

Tony Blades was awaiting trial for stabbing Richard Dowse in the arm when he plunged a knife into Anthony Blakelock’s chest in Murton, County Durham, in September 2008, having earlier challenged him to a fight in a late-night phone call.

An ambulance rushed Mr Blakelock to Sunderland Royal Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that night.