Axel Rudakubana is currently serving 52 years in London’s Belmarsh Prison after murdering three little girls at a Taylor Swift–themed yoga and dance workshop in Southport last summer
Axel Rudakubana has had his prison privileges raised from ‘basic’ to ‘standard’, earning back some major perks behind bars.
The Southport killer had his regime tightened after allegedly throwing boiling water at a prison guard in May. The new conditions mean he has more money each week to spend in the canteen, and gets more time out of his cell.
The standard regime also includes increased access to workshops, the library and gym at HMP Belmarsh, where he is currently serving 52 years over the killing of three girls in the Meols Cop area of Southport, Merseyside, on July 29 2024.
A source told the Sun: “It is outrageous that they have raised him to standard. They are basically bribing him to behave — by saying we’ll give you a telly and you can keep it if you don’t attack anyone.
“It makes his life a lot more comfortable and also means he can spend more on phone credit. He will get a Freeview TV with about 25 channels and the DVD player, though his access to films will be limited.”
Under the basic regime, inmates get £5.50 a week to spend, whereas those on standard have about £20. Prisons use a reward system to encourage good behaviour.
The Ministry of Justice declined to comment. The Mirror has contacted HM Prison & Probation Service for comment.
Police are still investigating May’s incident, in which the 19-year-old allegedly threw scalding water on a prison guard. After that he was reportedly put on a four-man unlock, which means he had to be escorted by four guards every time he left his cell.
The Prison Service said at the time violence in prison “will not be tolerated and we will always push for the strongest possible punishment for attacks on our hardworking staff”.
The unidentified prison officer was sent to hospital following the alleged incident and discharged the same day, the prison service said.
After his horrific attack in Southport last summer, Rudakubana was arrested immediately and later pleaded guilty before he received a life sentence with a minimum term of 52 years.
In the days that followed, baseless rumours falsely naming the attacker as a Muslim asylum seeker spread rapidly across social media. Fueled by the misinformation, riots erupted in multiple towns and cities across the UK as immigrants were left fearing for their lives.