Brit left to rot in ‘world’s toughest jail’ where inmates run riot

The family of a British backpacker stuck in the “world’s toughest” prison due to “false” drug trafficking charges are desperately fund-raising – as he has to pay for his own cell in the “hellhole“.

John Henshaw, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, was travelling in South America when he was reportedly arrested on a drug trafficking charge for the alleged possession of a “tiny” amount of cannabis at La Paz International Airport in Bolivia on February 9.

The 39-year-old is incarcerated in San Pedro prison in La Paz, Bolivia – featured on the TV show Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons – and sleeps on the floor until he has the funds for a bed. His worried daughter and ex-partner say he has no access to clean water, clean clothes, a consistent source of food or his own cell.

San Pedro is notoriously almost entirely ran by the prisoners themselves and is merely guarded by police, whose job is to keep the prisoners in, rather than regulate the activities of the prisoners inside.

John has told his family that he is sleeping on the floor nightly, surrounded by up to 30 other prisoners and is forced to share two toilets with around 120 inmates.

Yet cases can reportedly take up to 90 days to be assessed and processed in order for a full decision to be made – and the Brit has already languishing in the “hellhole” for 50 days.

The prison had an original capacity of 600, but reportedly now holds around 3,000 prisoners, who are each required to buy their own cells from their fellow prisoners. There are “suites” that “higher ranking” prisoners own, which have beds, access to wifi, and reportedly even jacuzzis.

John has told his loved ones that he has struggled with various illnesses and weight loss since being inside, including ear infections due to the insects which infest the prison, forcing him to sleep with tissue in his ears.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help John with his legal costs and to provide any essentials which can be brought to him in prison, wich has raised almost £3,000 so far.

John’s ex-partner Toni Rimmer and his 15-year-old daughter Kaitlyn Henshaw are both worried sick about the conditions he is living in and, fearing for his safety, just want him home.

Toni, who is trying to help with the legal process from here in the UK, said: “He’s a good person. It’s absolutely horrific in there. He can only get money in drip feed from the embassy. The only food he has been able to buy for himself is a ham and cheese toastie. He gets a bowl of broth a day, that’s it.

“You pay for the privilege of getting a cell, and he hasn’t even got one yet. I’m scared because he’s a British man. He doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him in there, he’s had no previous charges.

“It’s been nearly 50 days, I’m really worried. He doesn’t have visitors so he doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. If he’s got a load of money, he’ll just get robbed.

“His daughter is going through exams and is so stressed – she just wants her dad home safe. He’s a really good dad and his daughter is really missing him.”

John has reportedly been in contact with lawyers in Bolivia and reportedly waiting to confirm his final hearing. Daughter Kaitlyn said: “I spoke to him last Saturday – he was asking about me, I think to take his mind off where he is. There’s barely anyone that speaks English there. He said it’s overrun and dirty – he has to sleep on the floor.

“I’ve sent him letters and pictures which have managed to get through, but I don’t think there are any guards on the inside. It’s just been really stressful as I’m constantly worrying about how he is and on top of that I’ve got revision for my exams.

“He said you only get one meal a day and what they give him sounds disgusting – some people don’t get anything at all. I think he’s just fed up with the process of getting out – everything takes so long and he’s still waiting to see a judge.

“He has managed to buy food from other prisoners – some of them make food to get some money on the inside. I try to speak to him as much as I can to keep us both positive. I just want him to be safe and out of these conditions.

“It was my birthday a week after he was put in prison so I didn’t get to see him. He doesn’t like to talk about where he is too much, I don’t think he wants me to worry.”

Lewis Powell, a friend of John’s who has managed to speak to him briefly after John was able to get hold of a phone at one point.

Lewis said: “It’s a very bizarre kind of prison. It’s a hellhole. You’re paying for the privilege of getting a cell in this horrible prison. There’s a huge risk to his safety really.

“When I heard he had been charged with trafficking I thought god, that’s extreme, considering there’s cartels inside the prison itself. He’s just a tourist travelling South America and he’s been caught up in this. I’m worried about him and I just want to see him back with his daughter.”

John is currently waiting to hear from a judge on a final decision on his charges and is hoping that he won’t have to stay in San Pedro for the full 90-day waiting period.

A member of the British Embassy in Bolivia confirmed that they were helping John and that he is in San Pedro prison. Bolivia’s Ministry of Justice were contacted for comment. You can donate to John’s fundraiser here.

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