Man Utd forward Mason Greenwood to stay in one of the UK’s most notorious prisons

Mason Greenwood’s legal team are weighing up whether to appeal a district judge’s decision to remand the Manchester United footballer in custody as the 21-year-old faces the prospect of spending more than a month behind bars at one of the country’s most notorious prisons.

The once-capped England international is at HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways, after being refused bail in a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault causing actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour. He was first arrested in late January but granted conditional bail.

Pending the outcome of any appeal being lodged, Greenwood will remain at the prison, which has previously housed footballers Joey Barton and Benjamin Mendy, until November 21 when he will appear at Manchester Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing.

HMP Manchester has a long list of renowned former inmates but has recently transitioned from hosting Category A prisoners, effectively those who have been convicted of the most serious crimes, to Category B offenders. It continues to host Category A men on remand.

Harold Shipman, the most prolific serial killer in British history, was held there on remand before his trial. Ian Brady, the Moors murderer, spent time behind bars for theft. And Ian Brown, the Stone Roses frontman, wrote a number of songs while in prison following an air rage incident.

Mendy, the Manchester City player currently on trial for a range of sex offences, was moved to Strangeways from a prison in Liverpool while on remand in January of this year. He was subsequently released on bail.

The prison has 646 single cells and 49 double occupancy cells, with an operational capacity of 727 and as of February this year the population was 676. Prisoners are split across nine wings in two blocks.

There is a gym on site and inmates can play football and badminton. Education programmes include business lessons on top of a number of vocational courses. Inmates can work in textiles, printing and laundry workshops, as well as roles throughout the prison including as cleaners.

Restricted email access is available to prisoners, who also have phones in their cells which only allow outgoing calls between the hours of 8am and 10pm.

Prisoners have the choice of five meals from a menu that changes on a four-week cycle and there has been a decrease in violence.

The prison, which has been open since 1868, requires significant structural work with its 144-year-old 234ft tower “crumbling” according to an annual independent monitoring report. It has previously had significant issues with vermin infestations.

The independent report said that there had been an overall decrease in violence at the prison in the past year but prisoners face long waiting times to be seen by healthcare professionals with a 10 days for a GP appointment and more than two months to see a dentist.

Greenwood, who only spoke in court on Monday to give his name, address and date of birth, remains suspended by Manchester United. He last played for the club in a Premier League game against West Ham United on January 22, a week before his initial arrest.