Inmate's father claims son 'pushed by gang members'

The Department of Corrections said he was injured after a fall from a landing on a cell block at Mt Eden Corrections Facility. Photo / Thinkstock

The father of a former inmate at Mt Eden Prison denies claims his son was injured when he fell from a cell block landing, saying he was pushed by gang members following a fight.

Mike Littleton told Radio New Zealand his son Alex was injured in February when he was pushed following a fight with a group of Headhunters gang members at privately run Mt Eden Corrections Facility.

However, the Department of Corrections said he was injured after a fall from a landing on a cell block, Radio New Zealand reported.

After his son became involved in a fight with gang members, they returned to his cell with a home-made knife, Mr Littleton told the broadcaster.

"When he saw that he decided to find the gap and go for it," Mr Littleton said.

"He put his hand on the balustrade to jump over, it was two floors high. He put his hand on it ready to jump but one of the prisoners came out and gave him a shove and a whack from behind."

This knocked him off balance, Mr Littleton said, and when he landed he broke both his legs.

"While he was on the ground, because he couldn't move, they came down the stairs and dealt to him some more."

The only guard there, who was a "big fella", was dragging his son with one arm and trying to fight prisoners off with the other, he told Radio New Zealand.

"It's no good. When Alex was in hospital he had two guards with him.

"We were talking to them, some of them didn't want to get involved, but they said to us they weren't happy because they were understaffed. That was from the guards themselves.

"They weren't prepared to speak out about it, otherwise they could probably lose there job."

Following the altercation he met with management at Mt Eden Prison, he said.

"He was very PC trying to say all the right things to us to keep us calm and not try take things any further I guess.

"We've been around long enough to know what's right and wrong and we've been around enough people that have been in jail, people that work in jail to know what goes on in there."

Mr Littleton said he was convinced his son did not fall.

"He went to jump, because a quick look he knew what he had to do and he knew how he was going to land.

"I think it [Mt Eden Prison] is actually being run by the gang and the guards, you've only got to look into the news and see what's going on.

"To me Serco they're just not up to scratch... to me it's about money, not about safety. I'd really like to see Serco front up with the truth and really get them out of here"

His son has since been transferred to Whanganui Prison, Mr Littleton said.