visiting him regularly
in prison. Her father had promised that, when Colin was released, he could return to work for him. But Colin doubted that would happen. His boss had been disgusted when he learned of his
son-in-law’s criminal record.
On her last visit Karen had said she would not be able to come again as the baby was almost due and she was finding it hard to travel. Colin broke down in tears when he got back to his cell and
was so upset he couldn’t eat. When his request to be released for the birth of his child was then denied, his depression grew worse.
Officer Reardon escorted Colin over to East wing, where they were met at the entrance gate by another officer. Officer Reardon shook Colin’s hand and told him to cheer
up, be positive and not to look so down in the dumps. Colin still felt very depressed, but he didn’t want to upset Mr Reardon. He forced a smile and thanked him for his kindness. The other
officer then escorted Colin up to his new cell, unlocked the door and virtually pushed him in. Then he slammed the door and locked it.
‘Hi, I’m Barry Marsden, and you must be me new cellmate. Colin, isn’t it?’ said the man on the top bunk, sitting up straight with a big welcoming smile. ‘I’ve
only been in a couple of days. The officer said you’re a first-timer like me and been in a few months, but you was a bit down so I should try and cheer you up.’
Barry Marsden was twenty-one, a jovial friendly young man on remand in custody from the magistrates’ court. He was a bit overweight, and had a pleasant face, though he looked a little
nerdy with thick jam-jar glasses and he had bad body odour.
A sad-looking Colin said nothing as he placed his belongings, wash bag, bed sheets and blankets on the bottom bunk. He sat down on the end of the bed, put his head in his hands and began to
cry.
‘Cor blimey, Colin, you is in a bit of a state. Fancy a game of “I spy with my little . . .”?’
‘No I don’t. Just leave me alone,’ Colin replied sharply.
Unlike most of the inmates, Barry actually liked prison life and more than anything enjoyed the three meals a day. He had come from a very difficult family, and had been in and
out of a series of foster homes. Social Services had often been involved because of his step-father’s drinking and violence. Barry’s first attempts to make friends with Colin were met
with moody silences, but finally his easy manner and persistence paid off. He felt very sorry for Colin, who was heartbroken that he would miss the birth of his first child.
Colin wrote endless letters and called home whenever he could, but hearing Karen’s voice only made him feel worse. After a couple of weeks of watching his cellmate weep every night, Barry
came up with an idea.
‘I’m new to the wing, right? Nobody really knows me, and I’ve never met any of the officers on the main gates.’
Colin shrugged, not at all interested, until Barry excitedly suggested the idea that he could, if they worked together, plan Colin’s escape. Interested and slightly bemused, Colin asked
what the plan was.
‘It’s simple. All we do is switch identities! You go in my place to the magistrates’ court in a couple of weeks and do a runner when you get there,’ Barry said.
At first, Colin thought it was the most stupid idea he had ever heard. Apart from having similar hair colour and being the same height, they didn’t even look that much alike. And doing a
runner from court was why Colin got four years in the first place. However, desperate to be at the birth of his baby, he decided to listen to more details of Barry’s plan. The more the two of
them discussed the escape, as farfetched as the idea was, the more it seemed as if it might work.
Chapter Two
The two inmates whispered together through the night. Barry told Colin that it was usual to be questioned by the prison officers before being taken to court. As part of the
plan, Barry told Colin everything about his
in prison. Her father had promised that, when Colin was released, he could return to work for him. But Colin doubted that would happen. His boss had been disgusted when he learned of his
son-in-law’s criminal record.
On her last visit Karen had said she would not be able to come again as the baby was almost due and she was finding it hard to travel. Colin broke down in tears when he got back to his cell and
was so upset he couldn’t eat. When his request to be released for the birth of his child was then denied, his depression grew worse.
Officer Reardon escorted Colin over to East wing, where they were met at the entrance gate by another officer. Officer Reardon shook Colin’s hand and told him to cheer
up, be positive and not to look so down in the dumps. Colin still felt very depressed, but he didn’t want to upset Mr Reardon. He forced a smile and thanked him for his kindness. The other
officer then escorted Colin up to his new cell, unlocked the door and virtually pushed him in. Then he slammed the door and locked it.
‘Hi, I’m Barry Marsden, and you must be me new cellmate. Colin, isn’t it?’ said the man on the top bunk, sitting up straight with a big welcoming smile. ‘I’ve
only been in a couple of days. The officer said you’re a first-timer like me and been in a few months, but you was a bit down so I should try and cheer you up.’
Barry Marsden was twenty-one, a jovial friendly young man on remand in custody from the magistrates’ court. He was a bit overweight, and had a pleasant face, though he looked a little
nerdy with thick jam-jar glasses and he had bad body odour.
A sad-looking Colin said nothing as he placed his belongings, wash bag, bed sheets and blankets on the bottom bunk. He sat down on the end of the bed, put his head in his hands and began to
cry.
‘Cor blimey, Colin, you is in a bit of a state. Fancy a game of “I spy with my little . . .”?’
‘No I don’t. Just leave me alone,’ Colin replied sharply.
Unlike most of the inmates, Barry actually liked prison life and more than anything enjoyed the three meals a day. He had come from a very difficult family, and had been in and
out of a series of foster homes. Social Services had often been involved because of his step-father’s drinking and violence. Barry’s first attempts to make friends with Colin were met
with moody silences, but finally his easy manner and persistence paid off. He felt very sorry for Colin, who was heartbroken that he would miss the birth of his first child.
Colin wrote endless letters and called home whenever he could, but hearing Karen’s voice only made him feel worse. After a couple of weeks of watching his cellmate weep every night, Barry
came up with an idea.
‘I’m new to the wing, right? Nobody really knows me, and I’ve never met any of the officers on the main gates.’
Colin shrugged, not at all interested, until Barry excitedly suggested the idea that he could, if they worked together, plan Colin’s escape. Interested and slightly bemused, Colin asked
what the plan was.
‘It’s simple. All we do is switch identities! You go in my place to the magistrates’ court in a couple of weeks and do a runner when you get there,’ Barry said.
At first, Colin thought it was the most stupid idea he had ever heard. Apart from having similar hair colour and being the same height, they didn’t even look that much alike. And doing a
runner from court was why Colin got four years in the first place. However, desperate to be at the birth of his baby, he decided to listen to more details of Barry’s plan. The more the two of
them discussed the escape, as farfetched as the idea was, the more it seemed as if it might work.
Chapter Two
The two inmates whispered together through the night. Barry told Colin that it was usual to be questioned by the prison officers before being taken to court. As part of the
plan, Barry told Colin everything about his
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