A grieving mother has been ‘sickened’ by a gangster rap video she claims was recorded by her son’s teenage killer from his prison cell.
Zoey McGill believes Calum Maddison – who was 15 when he knifed Jack Woodley in the back - is the rapper in a short film uploaded to TikTok.
Mobile phones are strictly prohibited in young offenders' institutions and she thinks Maddison, who is serving life for murder, recorded and shared it on the social media platform using a contraband device.
The Northern Echo is investigating her claims and has reported the matter to the Ministry of Justice.
Zoey, 37, from Newton Aycliffe, said: “He is rapping about being big and hard and how he is a gangster.
“He stabbed a boy to death. This is serious. He thinks what he has done is so cool.
“It is beyond words. I find it absolutely sickening.
“I want to know how on earth this could be allowed to happen?”
Maddison and nine others appealed against their convictions claiming they did not get a fair trial but their bid was thrown out by senior judges in September.
Zoey said her 16-year-old son found the self-pitying drill rap-style video which glorifies the ‘gangster’ image over the Christmas period.
The rapper in the video has 35 followers and the film has been viewed over 1,200 times.
“There are people commenting on it with names like ‘Chop It’ and ‘Zombio’.
“These kids think it is cool and they wonder why they get involved in knife crime.”
Maddison, who moved to the region from London around six weeks before Jack’s murder, initially denied taking part in the brutal gang attack but later admitted lying to detectives.
The trial at Newcastle Crown Court heard he returned home to get the eight-inch Rambo-style survival knife to take to the fun fair, knowing his friends were looking for trouble.
Jack was stabbed by Maddison after a prolonged ordeal in which he was punched, kicked and stamped on as he lay defenceless in an alley near the Britannia Inn in Houghton-le-Spring.
He told the court he had not intended to hurt Jack but jurors saw through his lies after hearing how considerable force was needed to inflict the fatal 7cm deep wound.
The identity of the masked rapper has not been confirmed but the young man does appear to have the same features - such as the ears and hair - as Maddison in the mugshot released by police after the Northern Echo successfully challenged court orders giving him anonymity.
The second account also has a profile picture believed to be Maddison.
The rapper refers to being 15 – Maddison’s age when Jack was killed – and also appears to reference the 17-year minimum term he must serve before he is eligible for parole.
The rapper boasts he can handle the prison term because he is a ‘G’, a street slang term for ‘gangster’.
He says: “17 years I still take it like a f***ing G.”
The rapper also bemoans losing his court case and life inside while boasting about having mobile phone.
He says: “I lost my appeal, I’m stressed.
“Screws on patrol now so I’m chatting on the text.”
Zoey is now calling for an investigation within the Prison Service to establish whether Maddison – who is believed to be held at Wetherby YOI - was able to get access to mobile phone in his cell with access to the internet.
“He was one of ten lads who brutally murdered my son and he is saying ‘free the boys’.
“Free the boys? You are a murdering scumbag.
“He is in jail. He should not have luxuries.
“He should be put before a court. He is making a mockery of the system.
"He should have more time put on his sentence.”
He said: “It sounds appalling, and I want to see what can be done to control this.
“It feels completely wrong and we will be finding out what we can do about it.
“I cannot understand what he is on in this video about but if he is broadcasting himself from a prison cell it is completely out of order.”
Recommended reading:
- First meeting of North East Knife Crime Taskforce in Durham
- Calls for knife crime to be on school curriculum
- Pioneering interactive VR film could help North East kids learn danger of knife crime
He said: “I fully support the work the Northern Echo is doing.
“Knife crime is devastating on so many levels.”
Mr Howell said he has reported the TikTok video to the relevant authorities so further inquiries can be made.
Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device with a subscription to The Northern Echo. Click here
The Prison Service said it works with companies such as TikTok to get content removed and all incidences of social media misuse are investigated by the Digital Media Investigation Unit.
A spokesperson said: “We work with social media companies to remove videos and our £100m investment in airport-style security has helped us uncover more than 28,000 attempts to smuggle contraband – including phones – behind bars.
“We do not tolerate mobile phones in prison and those found with them face extra time behind bars."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel