A convicted killer is continuing his rooftop protest at HMP Strangeways in Manchester.
Stuart Horner, 35, made national headlines when he scaled the roof of the prison on Sunday afternoon wearing just a pair of blue and yellow pyjamas.
20 hours later he is still atop the roof, smashing glass windows with a metal pole and batting away attempts from police and prison negotiators to bring him down.
Greater Manchester Fire sent aerial appliances to the prison at midnight on Sunday in an effort to bring the one-man protest to a close.
But in front of a crowd of onlookers Holden is defiant, dancing and smiling, and thrashing the roof where he sits with a torn-off piece of metal.
Read: Strangeways: Prisoner in underwear singing and dancing in roof protest
The damage and destruction continues with burst pipes cascading water down into the main yard.
Food is being passed up to the convict, with shouts of encouragement and applause coming from the ground some 80 feet below.
“Go on, smash it, you’ve got f*** all to lose!” screamed one.
Stuart Horner was jailed for 27 years in 2012 for his part in the murder of of his uncle.
He has yelled to negotiators that he is protesting over conditions at Strangeways – a lack of toilet roll, excercise and limited meetings with family appear to be top of his list of complaints.
Last night prisoners supporting the protest shouted to reporters outside that they were being “treated like animals”.
A cherry picker has now been raised to roof level with Horner’s sister inside.
Greater Manchester Police have closed Southall Street, Sherborne Street, and Empire Street around the prison as they attempt to bring the protest to a close.
Chief Inspector Gareth Parkin of GMP’s north Manchester division said: “We are supporting our colleagues at HMP Manchester Prison to manage this incident safely, and as such we have had to temporarily close a number of roads.
“There may be some traffic disruption in the area, so those travelling past the prison are advised to allow some extra time for their journeys if possible.”
