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Strangeways prisoner ends rooftop protest Strangeways prisoner ends rooftop protest
(about 1 hour later)
A prisoner who scaled the roof of Strangeways prison in Manchester has ended his one-man protest after three days. A convicted murderer has ended his one-man rooftop protest at the high-security Strangeways jail in Manchester after a tense standoff that lasted three days.
Murderer Stuart Horner, 35, who was jailed in 2012 for killing his uncle, came down from the roof of HMP Manchester during the early hours of Wednesday morning. Stuart Horner, 35, jailed for 27 years in 2012 for shooting his uncle in the chest with a shotgun after a family feud, spent three days on top of HMP Manchester, ripping metal strips from the prison, smashing windows and attacking CCTV cameras.
On Sunday, he clambered up a five-metre (18ft) wall of the prison’s secure exercise yard before stripping to his underpants. The prisoner, who first climbed on top of the prison in nothing but jogging trousers but later dressed himself in a T-shirt with “Innocent” written on the front, reportedly came down at 3am after being promised a pizza and a can of coke.
Horner agreed to come down from the roof after being promised a 'pizza and can of coke' around 3am. pic.twitter.com/jjngCX05rI
His antics led to a “party protest” forming outside the Victorian jail with music blasting from a PA system as crowds gathered to show their support for the killer.
Horner’s sister went to the prison on Monday in a bid to talk him down after his mother, Susan, has made an emotional plea through the Manchester Evening News for him to end his protest.
Just woken up to find Horner has given up his #strangeways rooftop protest after 60 hours http://t.co/bmTJVdxLcU pic.twitter.com/yyNQBe8iRV
Related: Strangeways prison rooftop protest enters third dayRelated: Strangeways prison rooftop protest enters third day
During his protest on the rooftop of the prison, he caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage by pulling up metal roof trusses and using them to smash a series of large skylight windows and attack CCTV security cameras.
Prison officials used a fire brigade cherrypicker crane to reach him to try talking him down after the protest began on Sunday afternoon.Prison officials used a fire brigade cherrypicker crane to reach him to try talking him down after the protest began on Sunday afternoon.
Horner was given a life sentence, with a minimum of 27 years before parole, for killing his uncle Ian Taylor, 44, with a shotgun in June 2011 after a family feud. Three roads – Southall Street, Sherborne Street and Empire Street – had been closed around Strangeways, just north of Manchester city centre, while prison staff try to get Horner down.
The Manchester Evening News reported that at about 3am as he made his way down from the roof in a crane, he said: “I’ve proved my point. I’ve got a 12in pizza and a can of coke. I’ve done what I wanted. I’ve had a mad one.” Horner, who was visible and audible from the rooftop above the walls of the jail, complained about prison conditions and shouted down that he wanted to change prison history.
He is set to face punishment for breaking prison rules and probable prosecution for criminal damage.He is set to face punishment for breaking prison rules and probable prosecution for criminal damage.
Police said they were initially called at about 3.30pm on Sunday by prison guards who feared Horner may be seen by members of the public. However, they left once it was clear that he was within an 18ft secure exercise yard, unable to escape and not visible to passersby.
The Manchester Evening News reported that as he made his way down from the roof in a crane, Horner said: “I’ve proved my point. I’ve got a 12in pizza and a can of coke. I’ve done what I wanted. I’ve had a mad one.”