Prison bans sugar sales to stop cell-block booze barons

JAIL INSIDERS SAY CRACKDOWN WILL BE 'LIKE THROWING A WATER BALLOON AT THE SUN'

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

BOSSES at Salford's troubled Forest Bank prison have banned the sale of bags of sugar from the canteen in an attempt to tackle the production of illicit 'hooch' on the wings by inmates.

Insiders remain doubtful the plan will work.

Last year, as part of an investigation into the privately-run jail, the M.E.N revealed the scale of alcohol production there.

One inmate revealed to us that, out of the 60 cells on his wing, 12 of them were used for brewing alcohol.

Tomatoes, ketchup, sugar and bread for the yeast were left to ferment in cleaned-out two-litre drums under beds and beside radiators.

After five days, the hooch was decanted into old Vimto bottles then sold on the wing for £100 per litre.