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Gangster posts prison picture on Facebook with message: I’ll be out soon
Justin Davenport1 May 2009
Prison authorities have launched an inquiry after a self-proclaimed gang leader smuggled a camera phone into his cell and posted pictures of himself on Facebook.
Joland Giwa, 20, who claims to be the leader of a Croydon gang named Don't Say Nothing, poses in his cell and boasts: “I'll be out in two weeks.”
Police are also studying a YouTube clip in which he and other gang members boast about stabbing rivals.
While YouTube chiefs have removed the film from their website, officials admitted today they were powerless to stop prisoners from using social networking sites.
The Ministry of Justice revealed that it had held talks with internet sites such as Facebook and the media watchdog Ofcom about controlling images on social networking sites.
But a spokesman said: “This form of media is totally unregulated and we have no power to remove a social networking profile from the internet.”
The ministry said that in theory prisoners did not have access to mobile phones or the internet, and were not allowed to personally contribute to websites.
A spokesman said electronic scanners that detect mobile phones hidden inside people's bodies were being introduced in jails. Prisons were also being equipped with electronic scanners that can detect mobile phone signals.
Giwa, who calls himself DSN Dexter, is serving a sentence for robbery. He updated his site with photos showing a “cushy” life inside — complete with his own TV, stereo and kettle.
In one post on Facebook on 25 March, the criminal states “DSN Dexter is out real soon”, boasting that he will be “touching road real soon” — meaning he will be out on the streets.
He also joined a social networking group called RIP Oliver Dropz King, which pays tribute to 19-year-old Croydon teen Oliver Kingonzila who was stabbed to death last September.
Just after his last Facebook update other gang members posted an old clip of Giwa and other members of his gang — known for their street robberies and stabbings — on YouTube, boasting about how they would “stab up” members of rival gangs.
The clip, which has since been removed from the video-sharing site, shows six youths warning off rivals, with Giwa proclaiming: “Croydon is our town.”
One of Giwa's 72 Facebook friends, who did not want to be named, commented on his physical appearance, saying: “Dexter was big before he went in, but he's pumped himself up inside. And now he's getting out. We'll have our general back.”
Croydon police said the images posted on YouTube and Facebook were a “disturbing reminder” of Giwa's threat. A spokesman for HMP Rochester said it would investigate the case and would confiscate Giwa's mobile phone.
Reader views (24)
I think you are all ridiculous, None of you know him so none of you should judge! He is one of the nicest people i know and he has feelings like any other person. You should all be ashamed of your selves as he does nothing but put other people first.
- Ashley, Surrey, 27/01/2010 10:00
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the problem starts from the government itself, when they give them rights to be allowed to even talk, give them money, give them bed to sleep, let them sleep on the floor. let them shower allow them this and that no wonder they think they can do anything and the worse could happen to them, they will be taken care in beautiful cells in jail. why don't them give their own medicine? the thing is we have got people who are the chairman this and that organization who are themselves not seeing problems with these. so be it kids get more respect than a pro Sargent in the army, who has fighted for this country. why is that? father and mothers don't know about this cause these kids don't have father and mother, even they do they can't smack their kids if they do they will go to jail for child abuse. so the problem is the politics of this country. any other countries we look at many Asian middle east countries , kids respect the older, they won't even raise their voice over the older. try to that in a normal high school in England. the whole system is wrong. not even mentioning over tax money, our time, our kids who will be influence by these stupid policies. i be a father one day, surely he won't be raised in this environment.
- Koroush, london, 27/01/2010 09:00
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unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Stuart, london uk, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Labour Out!!!
British jails are holiday camps, hence these thugs want to get there to relax.
Crime pays in the UK, but Crime is Punished in Ghana. Am building a Prison in Ghana so UK can send me all their prisoners for hold up with hard labour. They will sure never want to offend.
- Richmond, Lux, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Why is his cell better equipped than my flat ?
Why don't we house these tough young men in a field with some tents and a lot of barbed wire and armed soldiers surrounding them ?
That will concentrate their minds on survival, rather than letting them build up their biceps.
Prison is obviously a joke, these people just need to be taken off the street for a very long time at minimal cost to the Taxpayer.
- Cap, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Jackboot Straw should resign immediately.
Before he is kicked out of office along with Gormless Brown and MISS PIGGY SMIFF.
Better still, put Jackboot Straw, Brown and MISS PIGGY SMIFF IN PRISON and throw away the key.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Judging by the picture, he's the leader of a gay gang.
- Keith, King's Cross, London
Now that IS funny!
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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When he gets out of prison he should be stripped of his residence and deported back to Africa. This government has been importing crime into our country and it is high time we reversed this.
- Nicki Nack Paddy Mac, Kilburn, London UK, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Ewww. I don't wana think where he smuggled that phone.... and if the buttons didn't get a bit unhygeinic...
There was a documentary on TV last year where a reporter went as an undercover prison guard and it quite clearly showed that mobile phones, drugs, and other goods were widespread - being brought into prisons by the guards who were being offered / charging huge amounts of cash. Evidently the Prison authorities turned a blind eye to that clear, hard-hitting, filmed evidence?
- Real, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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this idiot needs solitary...with no mirrors god he loves himself..i feel sorry for you cockney cranks up here that idiot would be at the bottom of the tees.
- Dpax, teeside, 27/01/2010 09:00
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What a smart move on his part - tell everyone (including your enemies) when you will be out and as an added bonus they can also see what you look like now!
- Mike, Long, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Longer jail sentences of at least ten years are in order for such thugs. They would only then be allowed out if they could prove they were reformed and had totally renounced their previous lifestyle. I wish I was in control of the criminal justice system.
- William Ear, Waltham Cross, 27/01/2010 09:00
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He is in love with himself a bit isnt he hahahaha
- Brian, Wiltshire, 27/01/2010 09:00
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officials admitted today they were powerless to stop prisoners from using social networking sites.WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PULL THE PLUGS OUT OF THE WALL SOCKETS. SIMPLE. OR IS IT ME THATS MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Mikeee, peterborough uk, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Doesn't matter what he's doing now - he'll rub someone up the wrong way and sign his own termination order.
- Paul, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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How nice that someone finally admits "Croydon is our town" Now THAT is scary
- Mark, vancouver canada, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Which party was it that had in its manifesto:
tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime?
Oh yes I remember now - New Liebour!
Until prisons stop being the 4 star hotels they are
now and become tough real prisons, they are no
deterrent. Any incoming government should stop listening
to the PC, criminal rights loving prison reform groups
and introduce longer sentences which must be served
completely, with no luxuries. Scum like this should be
locked up in bare cells. They should not have gyms
available so they come out fitter and stronger; I want
to see them broken, both physically and mentally so
the're no longer any danger.
- Lb, Bromley, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Thats what happens when you treat low life with the kid gloves approach,because of this i would take away all prisoners computers ,radios and television and let them know that any similar occurences will be dealt with the same way, maybe by doing this they would self regulate themselves and stop this sort of thing happening.
- Rosie, watford, 27/01/2010 09:00
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We have a weak government and society for the mess this country is in."
ha ha ha ,,,,,and wasn't it you who blamed Gordon Brown for the bad weather last month, Joe.. Silly billy
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Judging by the picture, he's the leader of a gay gang.
- Keith, King's Cross, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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We have a weak government and society for the mess this country is in.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Our justice system is a joke.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 27/01/2010 09:00
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Has the prison service never heard of internet firewalls, or banning of mobile phone signals in prisons?
It's obvious that this low-life thug isn't fit to be released at all yet. Time to get tougher on thugs.
- Napoleon Blownaparte, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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Ooooh he's such a big man with his own gang and everything!
Wonder what he and his loser gang friends will do when they grow up.
- Julian, London, 27/01/2010 09:00
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