Monday, 23 Dec 2024

Inside 'pink' prison where Arthur's killer stepmum is being held

The prison where Arthur’s killer is being held has brightly decorated cells and inmates are treated ‘respectfully’, a report found.

Emma Tustin, 32, is serving 29 years for murdering the youngster and was taken to HMP Peterborough in Cambridgeshire to begin her sentence just over a week ago.

Sources inside the prison have said she is being kept in isolation after fellow prisoners poisoned her food with salt as revenge for Arthur’s death.

But a report from the Inspectorate of Prisons earlier this year found the jail to be ‘safe, calm and well-ordered.’

In contrast to many other prisons across the country, the facility received a favourable write-up despite the visit taking place during the pandemic.

Inmates had been kept in their cells for up to 23 hours a day to minimise the risk of Covid spreading.

Although this posed several mental health concerns it had managed to keep cases low and violent incident were on a downward trend.

Despite this, 19% of women felt unsafe at the time of the visit and a third reported being victimised by staff or other women.


Tustin has become one of the more high profile prisoners being held at the site, which has room for just under 400 inmates.

She was found guilty of murder after a court heard how she and Arthur’s father, Thomas Hughes, 29, subjected him to a ‘campaign of cruelty.’

The youngster finally suffered an ‘unsurvivable’ brain injury after being beaten by Tustin in the hallway of their home in Solihull.

The report, based on a visit to HMP Peterborough by inspectors in March 2021, provides an insight into daily life behind bars.


Living and communal areas were reported to be clean but shower areas were not said to be private enough, leading some inmates to spurn the opportunity to wash daily.

Women were able to personalise their cells by decorating them with colours of their choosing and this was said to be ‘appreciated’.

The report stated: ‘Many (cells) we saw were painted in bright colours, which women said made them feel more homely.

‘There was sufficient space for women who shared cells that were designed for two people, but for the small number who shared cells designed for one person, living conditions were cramped. Toilet screening was inadequate, especially in shared cells.’

Inmates were given access to kettles and televisions, while a mobile delivery service allowed them to request books and DVDs.

The gym was closed and the educational offer was ‘limited’ due to the pandemic but things were said to be improving.

Nearly two-thirds of prisoners reported the food they were given at the prison was ‘good’ and chefs catered for a range of diets, with healthy options available.

Many prisons have remained in effective lockdown-like conditions despite restrictions easing in the outside world although it is not known how things have changed at HMP Peterborough since March.

Tustin has been designated a ‘vulnerable prisoner’ which means she has no contact with other inmates and eats, washes and exercises alone.

She is being kept under constant watch to ensure she doesn’t self-harm, according to reports.

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