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.
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.
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.’
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.’
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.
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