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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Conor Gogarty

Ex-inmates selling prison uniform and underwear on eBay - including from HMP Bristol

Ex-prisoners are illegally selling their uniforms online after being released from jail.

There are dozens of listings on auction website eBay advertising former inmates' underwear, sweatshirts, jogging bottoms, shirts, socks and even toothbrushes.

One man is offering a shirt with prison nametags, one of which says HMP Bristol. The asking price is £34.

He wrote: "This is one shirt you must have in your wardrobe or to show off. There are no tears, rips or fading or stains, certainly no fraying with all buttons matching.

"Also I have attached four other HM Prison tags on inside from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, HMP Bristol, HMP Swansea, HMP Pentonville - all prisons me and this summer shirt have been to. 

"Colour is blue and white stripes, the traditional prisoner dress code. If you would like to own this shirt, then please buy it at my asking price - where else will you get a shirt with so much to show?"

Inmates have been leaving HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London without returning their prison-issue clothing, according to an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report this month.

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This has left the prison with shortages in uniform. The IMB says Wormwood Scrubs has found it "difficult" to clothe its prisoners.

One HMP-branded t-shirt is being offered on eBay for £60, while a pair of socks is on sale for £200.

Prison toothbrushes and jeans are available in a £100 combo deal.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Where offenders who are being released do not have their own clothes, there is no alternative but to allow them to keep their prison clothing.

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"Anyone who sells that clothing would be breaking the law."

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eBay has been approached for comment on the sales of prison uniform.

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