Prisoner stages rooftop protest at Manchester jail

Convicted murderer climbs on roof and smashes windows at Strangeways

A convicted murderer is staging a rooftop protest over prison conditions at Manchester Prison, known locally as Strangeways.

Stuart Horner, 27, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, first climbed up a wall and on to the roof of the prison on Sunday afternoon.

He stripped to his Manchester United underpants at one stage, smashed windows and spent the night outside on the roof despite prison officers’ attempts to talk him down.

Inmates inside the jail have shouted encouragement with chants of: “There’s only one Stuart Horner.”

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Prisoners have now each been given a letter warning of “regime curtailments” due to the disruption caused by Horner to the Category A, top security jail.

Horner, who is visible and audible from the rooftop above the walls of the jail has complained about prison conditions and shouted he wants to change prison history.

He was jailed in 2012 for life, with a minimum of 27 years before parole, for the murder of his uncle, Ian Taylor (44) with a shotgun after a family feud.

Police have warned of traffic disruption around the area near to HMP Manchester due to temporary road closures while the protest continues.

Greater Manchester Police said they were called shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday to reports a prisoner was on the roof.

A spokesman for the force said: “The man is conducting a lone protest and has managed to get onto the top of the main building and cause damage to the roof.

“Staff at the prison are working to engage with the prisoner and resolve this situation, but he has remained on the roof overnight.”

– (PA)