‘Freezing’ prisoner cries down phone to girlfriend over lack of heating in cell

Stockton: Natalie Hannan is really worried about her boyfriend, Amar Magid. He’s stuck in a freezing cell at Holme House prison, and it sounds awful. She says he’s been crying to her on the phone because he’s so cold.

Amar, who’s 36, is in a segregation unit where the heating is broken. Natalie claims he can’t even wear his jumper or warm socks because they’re locked away. All he has is a T-shirt and a jacket, which isn’t enough to keep him warm.

She’s been trying to get help from the prison staff. One guard did bring him an extra blanket, but it’s thin and not really doing the trick. He’s been calling her, and it breaks her heart to hear him so upset.

Natalie shared that Amar was moved to this unit after some drugs were found in his cell. He’s supposed to be released soon, on December 16, but right now, he’s just trying to survive the cold.

The prison has said they’re working on fixing the heating and have given out extra blankets. They mentioned that segregation units are meant to keep order, but it’s hard to see how that’s working when inmates are freezing.