Inmate jailed for threatening calls

A remand prisoner who used a payphone at Brixton jail to make threatening calls to his former girlfriend, a vital prosecution witness, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Southwark Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Stephen Robbins expressed concern that Michael Ishmail, 24, of Bow, east London, was able conduct a 10-day campaign of fear "merely using a phone card". After the case the Prison Service said officials "were very concerned about the inappropriate use" of telephones.