Convicted child sex offenders are recording bedtime stories and podcasts for young relatives at a Nottinghamshire prison branded a “paedo paradise” by campaign groups furious over what they characterise as taxpayer-funded luxuries for inmates guilty of heinous crimes.
HMP Whatton—Europe’s largest sex offender institution housing approximately 580 paedophiles—operates a Storybook Dads charity programme enabling inmates to record children’s stories using props including puppets and toys, with the finished product described as resembling “a CBeebies bedtime story.”
The scheme operates across roughly 100 British prisons available to all inmates regardless of offence—including rapists and murderers—though the Ministry of Justice insisted facilities must first approve child contact whilst participants undergo “meticulous risk assessments” before receiving permission.
However, the programme represents just one element of conditions critics condemn as excessively comfortable, with The Telegraph analysis revealing HMP Whatton additionally provides state-of-the-art multimedia studios for podcast production, an on-site bistro, “hipster-style” vintage goods shops, privacy cell locks and “excellent” fitness facilities including well-equipped gyms and outdoor sports pitches.
Inmates possessing “protected characteristics” such as religion, race or transgender identity can launch podcasts on the prison’s television and radio channel featuring Christmas and New Year’s Eve specials alongside monthly request shows—programming HM Inspectorate of Prisons praised as demonstrating the jail’s “commitment to learning about prisoners’ experiences.”
TaxPayers’ Alliance campaign manager William Yarwood condemned the arrangements: “Taxpayers will be absolutely appalled to see the ‘cushy’ conditions being provided to sex offenders at their expense. Prison is intended to be a deterrent and a place of punishment, not a paedo paradise with podcasting studios and private entertainment.”
Justice for Victims—advocating for crime victims receiving greater sentencing consideration—argued: “They are serving time for some of the most heinous crimes as sex offenders they should not have access to what many would consider luxuries. Far too often, victims and their families feel let down by the justice system.”
Satisfaction amongst sex offender prison inmates consistently ranks higher than other jails according to analysis, with one HMP Whatton resident telling Inside Time he was “amazed by all the different shows and diverse music they offer,” though another complained limited television channels “can affect our mental health in a negative way.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the programmes: “Public protection is our number one priority and earned privileges play an important role to maintain safety in prison and cut crime. Educational and work-based programmes are important to rehabilitation and reduce the risk of re-offending.”
Officials emphasized offenders losing access to privileges if failing to follow rules.
