HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING, UNITED KINGDOM – A mother in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is raising concerns about her son’s killer, who she believes has appeared in a Tiktok video, rapping from behind bars. Zoey McGill’s son, Jack Woodley, was killed by Calum Maddison, who was 15 at the time of the stabbing.
McGill is disturbed by the fact that Maddison, who is serving a life sentence for the murder, may have used a contraband device to record and share the video, as mobile phones are strictly prohibited in young offenders’ institutions. She finds it deeply troubling and believes it glorifies the gangster lifestyle while trivializing the serious nature of the crime.
Jack Woodley, 18, was attacked by a gang of ten youths at a fun fair in October 2021 and tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day. The assailants, including Maddison, were sentenced to minimum terms of 8 to 15 years in detention for the brutal attack.
McGill’s frustration is compounded by the fact that the video, released over the Christmas period, has garnered a significant number of views and followers, further perpetuating the glamorization of criminal behavior. Additionally, she is calling for an investigation within the Prison Service to determine how Maddison was able to get access to a mobile phone and the internet from his cell.
Sedgefield MP Paul Howell has expressed his concern about the video and has reported it to the relevant authorities for further investigation. The Prison Service has stated that they work with social media companies to remove such content and investigate all instances of social media misuse. They assert that mobile phones are not tolerated in prisons and that those found with them face additional time behind bars.
The grieving mother’s distress and the challenges posed by social media in the context of criminal behavior highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of addressing crime and its impact on victims and their families. As the investigation into this case continues, the broader implications of social media access in correctional facilities are brought to the forefront.