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Otis Ferry: Prison is like boring, namby-pamby boarding school
Rashid Razaq12.11.08
JAILED huntsman Otis Ferry today mocked Britain's justice system slamming prisons for being "namby-pamby" and not tough enough on convicts.
The countryside campaigner is currently behind bars at HMP Gloucester on remand for allegedly perverting the course of justice in his trial for robbery and assault for trying to get a witness not to testify.
The 25-year-old son of Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, has revealed he finds incarceration "mind-numbingly boring" rather than a hardship and likens life in prison to the "entrapment" and "stupid rules" of his boarding school days.
In a letter to hunting publication, Horn & Hound, Ferry, says: "Contrary to popular belief, prison life is not tough, and in this namby-pamby society, we even get our own televisions, although I have quickly realised that watching it is quite a punishment in itself."
In a move likely to antagonise the justice system ahead of his trial next March, Ferry adds: "I am not a TV watcher outside prison and so I keep to my books as much as possible, that and my autobiography which is slowly taking shape.
"Other than that we go outside for half an hour every day in a tennis court sized yard, like battery hens, walk around in circles for a while then return to our cells for the rest of the day."
Elsewhere, the master of the South Shropshire Hunt, complains that he finds it difficult to converse with his fellow inmates because of their lack of knowledge of country pursuits and their being hardened murderers and drug dealers.
"The gaol has 400 inmates, soon to be 399 I hope. Most of my inmates are under 30 and we don't have much in common. There are not many countrymen so conversation is limited, but I have done my best to educate as many as possible. I have yet to meet someone here opposed to foxhunting," he says.
Ferry is due to appear in court on 3 December to enter a plea after his counsel withdrew a bail application yesterday. He has been in custody for two months and could remain in jail until his scheduled trial on 9 March 2009.
He tells readers of the "eventless" routine and the how he endures the grim food, with lunch served at the "most unusual" time of 11.30am while supper is at 4.30pm.
Ferry says: "The most frequently asked question is how the food is. My answer is that I simply swallow and reject any messages my tongue sends to the brain. My early life has prepared me for most things..my time scrubbing the Middleton hound yards gave me ample preparation for when people crap in the shower."
The pro-hunt supporter, who once stormed the House of Commons to highlight his cause, maintains his innocence, denying all charges and says he hopes to clear his name because he has had "quite enough of Porridge".
"I have stood up and been outspoken over our field sports. I have put my head well above the parapet, and be under no illusion that is why I am in prison. We are the victims of gross political bullying and prejudice, they have attempted to suffocate our pride and determination - something we will never give up," he adds.
Reader views (31)
It made my day brighter when I found out that they had thrown this odious, obnoxious, little public school twerp into prison. Let's hope they give him ten years in one of the country's worst penal establishments and see how he copes with that. Another good move would be to put his father in the same cell, for the same amount of time, as revenge for all that rubbish music he inflicted upon us all!
- Dave Green, London
very dismayed the London Evening Standard saw fit not to publish my comment submitted yesterday. I attempted to elucidate the facts about fox hunting much of which has not been made aware to the general public, allowing them to make a balanced decision on the right and wrongs of fox hunting
- Kelly, Muscat Oman
His dads next song could be " Mister Otis regrets".
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Otis regrets he's unable to lunch today....
Presumably because he's banged up.
- Jon Vanner, Hoxton London
In any other context most of the people who have commented here would be right behind his stance on prisons being soft and the need for tougher sentencing and prisons.
Don't compromise your morals because of who he is!
- Stuart, Luton, UK
I hope the other 399 inmates see this article. He may regret calling them a bunch of softies.
- Brian, Birmingham
It’s so refreshing to hear someone speak their mind, stand-up for what they believe and say it how it is. I totally support Otis, hunting and his views.
- Georgia, London
Jack O Greenwood, Ferry is on remand for "allegedly perverting the course of justice in his trial for robbery and assault for trying to get a witness not to testify. This case has nothing to do with oppressing free speech and democracy.
- Mike, London
This idiot is so arrogant,...and writing his autobiography!!!...What is that about??!...Well he'll have to find something else to do whilst locked up as it'll probably take him about 10 minutes to write about himself...Is he that deluded as to think that there is anyone who's even remotely interested in him?
- Ali Sichilongo, London
Great guy. Let's elect him prime minister
- Bill, norwich, norfolk
And what substance where his parents on the day the little lord was conceived.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England
He may be a prat but he is innocent until proven guilty. Why is someone who is accused of a non-violent offence in jail in the first place? There can be no doubt in my mind that this is clear example of blatant anti-Country sports bias in the pinko Judicial system. The thuggish murdering British Police were hitting helpless people with truncheons at the last Country March, loads of video evidence proved it. Not one bloody conviction? Why? How many more innocent people will the goons kill?
Ferry is a prat to open his mouth whilst still in prison. He should keep it zipped until after his trial.
What compensation will he get if found innocent?
- James Ritchie, New Malden, Surrey
Speechless. On so many levels. That this jumped up little twerp (*polite*) thinks (a) that anyone would be sufficiently interested in his autobiography (b) that he has lived long enough (actually....) to have anything worthwhile to say (c) that it is a point worth advancing that 'he has yet to meet anyone here opposed to fox-hunting' when in the same breath he describes his in-mates as hardened murderers and drug-dealers. Erm, even an amoeba could work out that a murderer of human beings is not really going to be concerned about the murder of an animal. Is he honestly suggesting we use them as a yardstick? To summarise, the only time I would agree with hunting is if they replaced the fox with the t*at that calls himself Otis Ferry and unleashed the hounds. Tally ho!
- Lisa Larizadeh, London
Funny how some pop stars from working class families try to elevate their family's status, via expensive education, marrying up-market, period country houses and country pursuits,to upper class.How snobbish and laughable and how sad that they feel they have to reject honest working class values.Instead of tearing wild animals to pieces perhaps the precious Ferry might like to consider doing something worthwhile with his life and get a proper job. I'm sure his working class grandparents would be very proud of him.
- Lynn, Epsom
I think a transfer to Broadmoor is imminent, would love this pencil necked, pretentious little twit to experience being the hunted and not the hunter.
Put that in your autobiography Otis, and I might be pursuaded to read a chapter or two.....
- Wendy K, London
What a Twit, set the foxes on to him at once!!! or lions come to that
- Dean, London
So he's working on an autobiography is he! What arrogance! He'll have trouble stretching his sad little life to more than three pages and I expect sales will be even less than those for Anthea Turner's!
- Rob, London
Where will I be able to buy this 25 year old's autobiography?
- George, London
I can tell you what will be boring and namby pamby| Otis Ferry's autobiography!What a spoilt little git
- Selwyn Channon, epsom
I am totally against Hunting. However I am also against using the law to stop freedom of speach and democracy. While I am 100% against this chaps convictions, I admire him for having views. The Police treatment of the Pro Hunt Demo was disgusting. Yes, I would probbaly give a Pro Hunter a good whack myself, including Otis, but then I am not a Police Officer charged with upholding law and order. The bloke should not be in prison. Even though if he was out I would still give him a punch but respect his right to tell me he wasnt happy about it.
- Jack O Greenwood, London
Arrogant little twerp! I used to like Bryan Ferry but knowing he's fathered something like this has even put me off his music!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Well in which case, the pampered, pompous, pretentious prat won't mind spending more time inside then.
- Carl, London
So his fellow inmates are "hardened murderers and drug dealers" and he has "yet to meet someone here opposed to foxhunting".
Not sure that's an endorsement to brag about.
- Richard Hancock, Bracknell, UK
First of all,since when is Otis Ferry upper class. Thought his dad is a pop star and not a Lord! What a totally deluded individual. But at least he highlights what we've all known. that prison is Butlins. Wonder if he has picked the soap up in the shower yet?
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London
That is the funniest thing I have read in ages- can we please start an online petition to add an extra 3 years on his sentence!
- Nick, Wymondham, Norfolk
What a revolting, inadequate, over-priviliged excuse for a man. Like a good many of the pro-hunting fraternity, he is a bully who has a misplaced sense of elevation and superiority in his belief that to torture a voiceless animal to death is somehow man's right. Let's see how he likes prison life when he's no longer on remand. He and his kind offend me to the core.
- Ruth, Hampton
Perhaps he is right?
- Stuart, Luton, UK
Tell me something I don't know. It is probably against their 'uman rights to lock them up in the first place.
All these lefty-liberals who pander to the scum of this country need to be locked up with them.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Ah the benefits of a Public School Education. He seems convinced that Laws don't apply to him.
- S Lloyd, Acton England
Please spare us from the musings of this pompous, conceited prig. Lock him up and throw away the key.
- Marian Kearney, London, UK
3 things:
1 - Of course life in prison is easier when you have enough money to bribe your way out of any situation.
2 - He's only been in for 2 months - let's see how he feels when he's been there a year or two.
3 - Maybe the prison service is protecting him as a rich and high profile inmate - stick him in with the rest of the prisoners and see how long he lasts.
Goes to show that money and education have no bearing on intelligence!
- Liberal And Proud, London, UK
