A British father rotted in a Bolivian prison that has no guards and sex offenders are electrocuted in shallow pools.
The family of the backpacker trapped in the “world’s toughest” prison on “trumped-up” drug trafficking charges is desperately fundraising as he has to pay for his own cell.
John Henshaw, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, was traveling in South America when he was reportedly arrested on a drug trafficking charge for allegedly possessing a “small” amount of cannabis at La Paz International Airport in Bolivia on the 9th. of February.
The 39-year-old is imprisoned in San Pedro prison in La Paz, Bolivia (featured on the TV show Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons) and has to sleep on the floor until he has funds for a bed.
His worried daughter and ex-partner say he has no access to clean water, clean clothes or a constant source of food.
John Henshaw, from Atherton, Greater Manchester, was traveling in South America when he was reportedly arrested on a drug trafficking charge for allegedly possessing a “small” amount of cannabis at La Paz International Airport in Bolivia on the 9th. of February.
John Henshaw, 39, is pictured with his daughter Kaitlyn, now 15.
It is notable that San Pedro is run almost entirely by the prisoners themselves and is simply guarded by the police, whose job is to keep them inside, rather than regulate the activities of the prisoners inside.
John has told his family that every night he sleeps on the floor, surrounded by up to 30 other prisoners, and is forced to share two bathrooms with around 120 inmates.
Cases can reportedly take up to 90 days to be evaluated and processed before a full decision can be made, and the father has already been incarcerated for 50 days.
The prison had an original capacity of 600 people, but now reportedly houses around 3,000 prisoners, each of whom must purchase their own cells from their fellow prisoners.
There are ‘suites’ owned by ‘high-ranking’ prisoners, which have beds, wifi access and reportedly even jacuzzis.
John has told loved ones that he has battled several illnesses and lost weight since being inside, including ear infections due to the bugs that infest the prison, forcing him to sleep with scarves in his ears.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help John with his legal costs and to provide him with any essentials he can take with him in prison, which has raised almost £3,000.
John’s ex-partner, Toni Rimmer, and his 15-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn Henshaw, are concerned about the conditions he lives in and just want him home.
The 39-year-old is imprisoned in San Pedro prison in La Paz, Bolivia – featured on the TV show Behind Bars: The World’s Toughest Prisons – and has to sleep on the floor.
Lewis Powell (pictured) is a friend of John’s who managed to speak to him briefly after he was able to get hold of a phone at one point.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help John (pictured with his daughter Kaitlyn) with his legal costs and to provide him with any essential items he can bring with him in prison.
John’s ex-partner Toni Rimmer and his 15-year-old daughter Kaitlyn Henshaw (pictured) are worried about the conditions he lives in and just want him home.
A GoFundMe has been created to try to raise money for John to ‘pay’ for a cell phone
Toni, who is trying to help with the legal process from the UK, said: “He’s a good person.” She is absolutely horrible in there.
You can only receive money from the embassy by drip. The only food he has been able to buy is ham and cheese toast. He gets a bowl of broth a day, that’s all.
“You pay for the privilege of getting a cell phone and he doesn’t even have one yet.
‘I’m scared because he’s a British man. He does not deserve what is happening to him in there, he has had no previous charges.
‘It’s been almost 50 days, I’m really worried. He has no visitors so he has no idea what is going on. If she has a lot of money, they will simply rob her.
‘Your daughter is going through exams and is very stressed; She just wants her father to be home safe and sound. He is a really good father and his daughter really misses him.”
John has reportedly been in contact with lawyers in Bolivia and was waiting to confirm his final hearing, it was claimed.
His daughter Kaitlyn said: “I talked to him last Saturday; he was asking about me, I think to keep his mind off of where he is.”
“There is almost no one who speaks English there. He said that he is invaded and dirty: he has to sleep on the floor.
Clothes hang from every railing in the prison yard, where children are shown playing away from their parents.
Children of inmates are pictured surrounding a pool inside the San Pedro prison, the largest in Bolivia’s main city, La Paz.
San Pedro Jail is significantly different from most correctional facilities. Inmates buy or rent their accommodation and can play football (pictured) with their children
The photo shows a prisoner looking at children playing inside the San Pedro prison.
“I sent him letters and photos that they managed to get through, but I don’t think there were any guards inside.
“It’s been very stressful because I’m constantly worrying about how he is doing and I also have to review my exams.”
“He said you only get one meal a day and what they give you sounds disgusting; some people don’t eat anything at all.”
“I think he’s just fed up with the exit process; everything takes a long time and he’s still waiting to see a judge.”
‘He managed to buy food from other prisoners; some of them prepare food to earn some money inside.
‘I try to talk to him as much as I can to keep us both positive. I just want him to be safe and out of these conditions.
‘It was my birthday a week after he was jailed so I couldn’t see him.
“He doesn’t like to talk too much about where he is, I don’t think he wants me to worry.”
In the photo a man appears with a bucket inside a bathroom inside the prison.
Inside the jail, inmates create art and play card games.
Violence can escalate within prison walls to the point that the police have to intervene.
Almost all residential sections contain market stalls and places to play (pictured)
Lewis Powell is a friend of John’s who managed to talk to him briefly after he was able to get a phone at one point.
Lewis said: ‘It’s a very strange kind of prison. It’s a hell.
You are paying for the privilege of having a cell in this horrible prison. There really is a big risk to your safety.
‘When I heard he had been charged with trafficking I thought God, that’s extreme, considering there are cartels inside the prison itself.
‘He’s just a tourist traveling through South America and he’s gotten caught up in this.
“I’m worried about him and I just want to see him back with his daughter.”
John is currently waiting to hear from a judge on a final decision on his charges and hopes he will not have to remain in San Pedro for the entire 90-day waiting period.
A member of the British Embassy in Bolivia confirmed that they were helping John and that he is in San Pedro prison.
Bolivia’s Ministry of Justice was contacted for comment.