British dad stuck in one of the world’s most notorious and lawless prisons

John Henshaw has been placed inside San Pedro (Picture: Kennedy News/Media Drum World)

John Henshaw has been placed inside San Pedro (Picture: Kennedy News/Media Drum World)

A British dad has been thrown into a notorious jail, where the prisoners are in charge and you have to pay for a cell.

John Henshaw, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, was backpacking through South America when he was stopped by police at La Paz airport in Bolivia on February 9.

Henshaw, 39, was arrested on a drug trafficking charge for possession of a ‘tiny’ amount of cannabis, according to MailOnline.

He was then incarcerated in the San Pedro prison, which was featured on the TV show Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons.

The jail is known for its lawlessness, with allegedly no guards patrolling the inside the facility, only on the perimeters to make sure inmates don’t escape.

Henshaw’s worried daughter and ex-partner say he has no clean water, clothes or regular meals.

He told them he sleeps on the floor with around 30 inmates and has to share two toilets with some 120 people.

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: JOHN HENSHAW, 39, WHO IS STUCK IN THE 'WORLD'S TOUGHEST PRISON') 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. DISCLAIMER: While Kennedy News and Media uses its best endeavours to establish the copyright and authenticity of all pictures supplied, it accepts no liability for any damage, loss or legal action caused by the use of images supplied and the publication of images is solely at your discretion. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266

He was backpacking through South America when he was arrested (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

The prison is built to hold 600 inmates but has around 3,000 and if you want a bed and a cell you have to buy them from other prisoners.

Some of the ‘higher ranking’ prisoners have ‘suites’ with beds, access to wifi and hot tubs.

John is waiting for his case to be assessed and processed but this can take up to 90 days. So far he’s been at the prison for around 50.

According to his loved ones, he has struggled with illnesses during the stay, including ear infections due to insect infestations.

A view of San Pedro prison.

The prison was designed to hold 600 inmates but is home to around 3,000 people (Picture: Danielle Almeida Pereira/mediadrumworld.com)

Growing up in a prison filled with drug lords: The brutal Bolivian jail where families live alongside their criminal relatives

The conditions at San Pedro are extremely poor, say John’s family (Picture: Danielle Almeida Pereira/mediadrumworld.com)

They have launched a GoFundMe to help him with his legal and living costs, including money for a cell

The page reads: ‘John has found himself in one of the worst prisons in South America.

‘He’s been thrown in San Pedro, La Paz, Bolivia which is featured on an episode of Worlds Toughest Jails.

‘There’s zero human rights, the prison is left to the prisoners. All the guards are on the outside, they never go inside.’

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: JOHN HENSHAW, 39, WHO IS STUCK IN THE 'WORLD'S TOUGHEST PRISON') 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. DISCLAIMER: While Kennedy News and Media uses its best endeavours to establish the copyright and authenticity of all pictures supplied, it accepts no liability for any damage, loss or legal action caused by the use of images supplied and the publication of images is solely at your discretion. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266

John is from Atherton in Greater Manchester (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: 15-YEAR-OLD KAITLYN HENSHAW) 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. DISCLAIMER: While Kennedy News and Media uses its best endeavours to establish the copyright and authenticity of all pictures supplied, it accepts no liability for any damage, loss or legal action caused by the use of images supplied and the publication of images is solely at your discretion. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266

John’s daughter Kaitlyn Henshaw says she is very worried about her father (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

The page has raised almost £3,000.

John’s ex-partner Toni Rimmer and his daughter Kaitlyn Henshaw, 15, are worried about him.

Toni, who is helping with the legal process from 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.’

She added: ‘He doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him in there, he’s had no previous charges.’

Growing up in a prison filled with drug lords: The brutal Bolivian jail where families live alongside their criminal relatives

The inmates often have their family living with them at San Pedro (Picture: Danielle Almeida Pereira/mediadrumworld.com)

Kaitlyn, who has spoken to her dad on the phone a few times, said she was stressed about the situation and wants him home safe as soon as possible.

John is waiting to hear from a judge on a final decision on his charges and hopes 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.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.


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