Probe call over naked Saughton prisoner photos posted online

JUSTICE Secretary Michael Matheson has demanded a probe into Evening News revelations of violent prisoners posting selfies from prison on social media.

John Reidhas been captured in pictures taken and uploaded to Facebook from his jail cell.

We reported on Tuesday how killer John Reid and accomplice Michael Roberts posed for photos in Saughton, including bathing in a sink naked.

Prison chiefs confirmed they were investigating as possession of a mobile phone behind bars is a criminal offence.

“I can’t comment on that specific allegation because this is a matter that is now under police investigation because it is a criminal offence to have a mobile phone within a prison, said Mr Matheson.

“What I do expect is for this matter to be fully investigated and where there is evidence offences have been committed, for appropriate action to be taken against individuals who have been involved in this activity.”

Reid, then 16, was jailed for five years after killing delivery driver Simon San in 2010 outside his family’s Chinese restaurant in Lochend with a single punch.

Also featuring in the photos is fellow prisoner Roberts, 22, jailed for his part in the attack on Mr San.

In a fake Facebook account, Roberts posts: “I’m f**kin back f**k the system.”

He also boasts about being “in charge” and mocks guards for a security search that found nothing.

“They’re making a mockery of the system,” said a 23-year-old who spotted some of the images on Facebook. “It’s shocking.”

Reid and Roberts were part of a feral gang which taunted 40-year-old Mr San, yelling racist abuse at him.

Reid, now 23, was released after three years but jailed again in 2014 for breaking his parole, and again last year for housebreaking.

His latest stretch of five years and four months was handed down in August after he admitted punching a woman repeatedly on the head in Muirhouse.

He was sentenced for that sickening attack along with the assault and robbery of another man days later.

Roberts was handed a three-year sentence for helping Reid rob the man at knifepoint in his own home.

He poses topless with cellmate Lee Ridgeway while the pair also post selfies from the prison gym.

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said: “These images will do nothing to convince his victims that he’s serving any kind of punishment while in prison.

“Serious criminals like this are supposed to be rehabilitated while inside. Going on these photographs, this killer’s having the time of his life.”

Reid is believed to have been moved to a Glasgow prison by guards after the photos emerged in a bid to keep him away from Roberts.

A spokesman for the Scottish Prison Service said: “Obviously this has been brought to our attention and we are investigating. We don’t comment on individual prisoners but this will be thoroughly investigated.”

And a police spokeswoman said: “We have been made aware of allegations that images of prisoners with HMP Edinburgh have been posted online and are currently liaising with the Scottish Prison Service as part of initial investigations.”