Prisoner to sue over permanent erection

A PRISONER whose penis became permanently erect is to sue Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, over allegedly negligent care received during his priapic crisis at Doncaster prison, the Government's flagship privatised jail, writes Jonathan Foster.

Stephen Smith, 42, who is on remand facing theft and burglary charges, realised he had a problem one Sunday morning last month.

'I was getting pain in the penis,' he said. 'The medical trolley came round, and I asked for painkillers and to see the doctor.'

But he claims he saw no prison doctor for 30 hours. The doctor referred him to Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he had immediate surgery and was transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield.

'I was kept handcuffed to the bed in case I tried to escape. I can't see how I could have got away. My testicles were enormous and black.'

Discharged after five days, he claims his treatment back at the prison was negligent. The surgical wound re- opened, he contracted a urinary infection, and he had to go back to the Hallamshire.

'They never changed the dressing. At one point I was wrapping my penis in wads of toilet paper to absorb the discharge. I have been told I have a 90 per cent chance of being sterile and I don't know if I will ever be able again to get an erection.'