Growing Pains?

Giant prisoner 'too big for his cell'

A Dutch prisoner, described as a 'giant' by his lawyer, has gone to court claiming his cell is too small for him.

The 6ft 9ins man, who weighs 36 stone, says he cannot sleep properly or even use the toilet in his cell, reports the BBC.

Named by his lawyer as Angelo MacD, he is asking to complete his two-year sentence for fraud under house arrest.

Prison officials at Krimpen aan de IJssel have tried to relieve his discomfort by adding a a 2.15m plank and an extra mattress to his bed.

But MacD's lawyer, Bas Martens, told a court in The Hague that his client's conditions violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

"My client just wants to serve a comparable sentence without pain," Mr Martens told Radio Netherlands.

"He is 2.07m tall and a metre wide and a metre deep," he said. "He is not obese. He is a giant. He even walks like a giant, like out of the comic books."

The extra plank had helped but MacD still had to "sleep with one eye open in case he falls out of bed", added Mr Martens.

It was almost impossible for him to wedge himself into the shower, while the toilet was so low and tiny that visits had to be kept to the minimum.

MacD began his sentence in September and is not due for release until 12 April 2012. A court ruling on the case is expected early next month.