Violent prisoner sent on meditation course to learn how to get a good night’s sleep inside jail
The restless inmate was awaiting trial for beating up his terrified girlfriend when he went to the classes to help him relax
A violent prisoner was sent on a meditation course so he could get a good night’s sleep, a court was told.Restless Paul Richards, 45, was awaiting trial for beating up his terrified girlfriend when he went to the classes to help him relax at HMP ElmleyShocked judge Heather Norton, who was handed a certificate stating Richards had completed the course in Sheerness, Kent, as she prepared to sentence him, said: “This is the first time I have ever heard someone learning to sleep in their cell.“I have never ever heard of anything like this being offered to prisoners.”Oliver Kirk, defending at Canterbury Crown Court, said: “The sleep course is designed to help prisoners to meditate and get into a good sleeping routine in their cells and assist them with addressing their drug or alcohol abuse.”He said some alcoholics and drug-users had difficulties “with day and night” because of their lifestyles.They needed help understanding the need “to get a good night’s sleep”, the court heard.But the judge said: “Well that’s news both to me and my fellow judges here at Canterbury Crown Court.”Heroin addict Richards, from Dover, Kent, attacked his lover Lisa Kennett in January this year.Lisa feared for her life during the attack, which left her with several injuries to her face and body, Canterbury Crown Court was told.He was jailed for a total of eight months at Canterbury Crown Court on April 5 after he admitted common assault, resisting arrest and possessing cannabis.The Ministry of Justice yesterday confirmed that courses to help prisoners sleep were commonplace across Britain.In 2010 violent prisoners at Shepton Mallet jail in Somerset were given yoga courses and taught ‘Taoist meditation breath work’ to teach them how to relax.Inmates at HMP and YOI Portland, Dorset, were given horse therapy to stop them re-offending.They were taught to control the movement of horses “simply by using body language and attitude” in the hope it would stop them re-offending.
The restless inmate was awaiting trial for beating up his terrified girlfriend when he went to the classes to help him relax
A violent prisoner was sent on a meditation course so he could get a good night’s sleep, a court was told.Restless Paul Richards, 45, was awaiting trial for beating up his terrified girlfriend when he went to the classes to help him relax at HMP ElmleyShocked judge Heather Norton, who was handed a certificate stating Richards had completed the course in Sheerness, Kent, as she prepared to sentence him, said: “This is the first time I have ever heard someone learning to sleep in their cell.“I have never ever heard of anything like this being offered to prisoners.”Oliver Kirk, defending at Canterbury Crown Court, said: “The sleep course is designed to help prisoners to meditate and get into a good sleeping routine in their cells and assist them with addressing their drug or alcohol abuse.”He said some alcoholics and drug-users had difficulties “with day and night” because of their lifestyles.They needed help understanding the need “to get a good night’s sleep”, the court heard.But the judge said: “Well that’s news both to me and my fellow judges here at Canterbury Crown Court.”Heroin addict Richards, from Dover, Kent, attacked his lover Lisa Kennett in January this year.Lisa feared for her life during the attack, which left her with several injuries to her face and body, Canterbury Crown Court was told.He was jailed for a total of eight months at Canterbury Crown Court on April 5 after he admitted common assault, resisting arrest and possessing cannabis.The Ministry of Justice yesterday confirmed that courses to help prisoners sleep were commonplace across Britain.In 2010 violent prisoners at Shepton Mallet jail in Somerset were given yoga courses and taught ‘Taoist meditation breath work’ to teach them how to relax.Inmates at HMP and YOI Portland, Dorset, were given horse therapy to stop them re-offending.They were taught to control the movement of horses “simply by using body language and attitude” in the hope it would stop them re-offending.