HMP High Down’s most famous inmates as Princess Kate steps inside Surrey prison today
The Princess of Wales is visiting HMP High Down in Surrey today and below the Express takes a look into its most famous inmates.
This is not the first time the Princess of Wales has visited a rehabilitation centre (Image: Getty, PA)
Princess Kate is heading behind bars today as she meets inmates at one of the UK’s most notorious prisons.
The royal arrived at HMP High Down, in Surrey, where she will learn about how The Forward Trust – which she is a patron of – is supporting those in the criminal justice system to manage and recover from their addictions.
The royal will also visit the prison’s gourmet restaurant – The Clink – where prisoners train in hospitality.
But the prison has housed many famous prisoners in the past – here Express.co.uk takes a look at who exactly has stayed at HMP High Down.
The facility – built in 1998 – is a Category C prison and young offender institution and can hold around 1,100 men at a time.
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It is located next to Downview prison adjacent to the southern border of Belmont, Greater London.
And it’s also formerly the home of disgraced singer Gary Glitter, drug smuggling cricketer Chris Lewis and footballer Josh Payne.
Glitter, who was jailed for 16 years at Southwark Crown Court in 2015 following a conviction for multiple historic child sexual offences, was moved to HMP High Down one month into his sentence, before being transferred to HM Prison Albany and HM Prison The Verne later on.
The disgraced glam rocker – whose real name is Paul Gadd – was released on licence in February 2023 after serving half of his sentence, due to the sentencing guidelines in place at the time of the historic offence, but was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions last March.
A sign outside HMP High Down (Image: PA)
Lewis was jailed in 2009 for drug smuggling and spent six years at the prison, whilst Josh Payne, was jailed for twelve months for actual bodily harm and common assault.
It was also reported that a prison officer there was jailed after he was found to be encouraging inmates to beat up “vulnerable” inmates such as sex offenders.
This is not the first time the Princess of Wales has visited a rehabilitation centre.
She’s previously paid a visit to a private visit to Eastwood Park women’s prison in Gloucestershire, as well as Send Prison in Surrey.
