Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Child rapist Roger Gleaves in 'slopping out' court case

A rapist who had to use a bucket as a toilet at an Isle of Wight prison has claimed a breach of his human rights.

Roger Gleaves, 77, who was convicted of the rape of two 14-year-old boys, is asking for damages of £2,600.

He branded the practice of "slopping out" during his time at Albany prison as "demeaning and utterly despicable".

The Ministry of Justice is fighting the High Court action brought by Gleaves, who was given a 15-year sentence at the Old Bailey in 1998.

'Upsetting to inmates'

Addressing Mr Justice Hickinbottom in London, Gleaves said: "The situation in regard to the use of buckets is deplorable because not every prisoner chooses to use it as the target for waste.



"It should never have been allowed."

In the UK there are 2,000 cells that do not have integrated toilet facilities - about 3% of the total prison estate.

New prisons have a toilet in every cell but in some older prisons inmates operate a call button to ask for their cell to be unlocked so they can use facilities outside.

Only one prisoner is let out at a time for between six and 10 minutes, with waits depending on how many are in the queue.

Gleaves was brought out of Brixton prison to state his case.

Also seeking damages is former Albany inmate Desmond Grant, 30.

More on this story