BROTHERS GRIM
FEARED gangster Mark Richardson and psycho-killer sidekick Colin Coats have been given peacekeeping roles at the jail where they're held after a series of riots.
Edinburgh mob boss Richardson was a lead negotiator in a prisoner council that met the governor of HMP Glenochil, near Alloa, after protests at the jail led to tense lockdowns.
He was assisted by Coats, one of Scotland's most notorious killers, who is serving a 33-year stretch for the torture and murder of Lynda Spence, which shocked Scotland in 2013.
Cons have been furious at the frequent lastminute cancellations of jail events that get them out of their cells, caused by chronic staff shortages.
And after two protests led to a prison stand-off this month - with emergency crews on alert amid fears of a riot Richardson presented a list of demands to governor Sharanne Findlay and deputy John Docherty.
A prison insider said the showdown allayed fears that evening visits would be cancelled.
The source said: "Mark Richardson is the one that calls the shots at Glenochil and prison management know he has to be respected.
"Although he is the one man in the jail who is not to be crossed, he also carries clout as a negotiator.
"He has become pals with Colin Coats, who is an ultra-violent brute but also well educated and articulate.
"The same swagger that made Richardson a crime boss lends itself well to leadership roles inside the jail, which means he was nominated to be part of the prisoner council that liaises with jail governors."
The source added: "Richardson believes it's good for his image in the jail that he can hold this position."
Denne historien er fra November 25, 2024-utgaven av Daily Record.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 25, 2024-utgaven av Daily Record.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FM was coasting.. now he's all at sea
LABOUR'S stunning win was a huge boost for Anas Sarwar's chances of becoming the next first minister and a hammer blow for John Swinney.
Becks set to receive a knighthood
DAVID Beckham is to be awarded a knighthood by King Charles.
Nat: I thought cancer was a mosquito bite
ATOMIC Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton has revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer, saying she initially thought it was a mosquito bite.
Alcaraz in final after Musetti injury
CARLOS ALCARAZ survived an early scare to book his place in tomorrow's French Open final.
THIS TERM WAS GREAT DESPITE HAMPDEN WOE
KASPER SCHMEICHEL insists Hampden heartache won't derail his grand designs at Celtic.
Snog, marry, avoid game a work no-no
PLAYING “snog, marry, avoid” with your work colleagues could be sexual harassment, a tribunal has ruled.
JAN HAS NO MERCY
Young gun topples old master
Fund set up in memory of cancer DJ
THE family of a young DJ who died from a rare form of childhood bone cancer have set up a research fund in her memory.
Waspi 'landmark moment' in pensions compo battle
WASPI activists say they have cleared a hurdle in their fight for a High Court challenge on state pension age changes.
Kory family plan walk to highlight knife crime toll
THE family of stabbing victim Kory McCrimmon say they want his death to make a difference as they plan a march to raise awareness of knife crime.
