A thug jailed for holding a mother and daughter at knifepoint is posting photos on Facebook bragging of his ‘easy’ life behind bars
Violent Sonny Barker, 20, was jailed for eight years for aggravated burglary.
But the cocky yob has smuggled a phone into his cell at HMP Rochester in Kent to show off his cushy surroundings which include a Playstation 2 and TV.
Pictures posted on his Facebook account also show the vain villain posing for the Blackberry’s camera.
Barker’s first post on June 29 said: “What’s happening! Coming from live from prison. Whos missing me.”
On July 14 he wrote: “I’ll be home soon. Real soon December 2015.”
On August 4 he posted: “Why am I not getting the adds I deserve on BBM?!”
Two days later he responds to a pal who said he “has it on smash” – prison slang for living an easy life inside.
Barker boasts: “When haven’t I had it on smash? Admit it, been bossing since Elmley [prison].”
Barker is also seen posing with cell mate Korrel Kennedy, 20, who was once dubbed “Britain’s worst teen”.
Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, described the online postings as “scandalous”.
He said: “We’re extremely concerned that prisoners have been able to smuggle phones into their cells and take pictures and post them on Facebook.
“It is nothing short of scandalous and a breach of security.
“We believe it is down to cuts to staffing levels, cuts to budgets and redundancy programmes up and down the country.”
Barker, from Canterbury, Kent, burst into a family home last February wearing a balaclava and held a knife to a woman’s face and then to the stomach of her 16-year-old daughter.
He pleaded guilty and was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court in May last year for eight years with another four on extended licence.
The court heard he already had 24 convictions dating back to 2008.
HMP Rochester is a category C Young Offenders Institution for 650 male offenders deemed untrustworthy and likely to try and escape.
The prisons are closed but have less strict internal security than higher category institutions.
Past inspections have found evidence of violence, bullying and ‘Fight Club’ style culture in the prison.
Inmates are allowed electrical items for their cells and given football coaching courses and cookery classes.
The Ministry of Justice said they were investigating.
A Prison Service Spokesperson said: “Prisoners have no access to the internet other than for specific educational, employment or legal purposes – even then they are supervised by prison staff at all times and can only access pre-approved website.
“It is a criminal offence to have a mobile phone in prison and any prisoner found with one will be dealt with severely.”
