Police are investigating claims of death threats made against the family of the jailed former senior officer Ali Dizaei, after a clash with another prisoner was followed by someone getting into his cell and daubing abusive messages on pictures of his children and wife.
In June, Dizaei claimed an inmate had racially abused him. An investigation upheld the complaint and also said the former top officer was not to blame.On Sunday, Dizaei was involved in a clash with another inmate, with both claiming the other attacked them.
Dizaei's wife, Shahameh Yekta, said someone had subsequently got into her husband's locked prison cell and daubed death threats on family pictures.She said: "I'm so scared, this guy is threatening Ali and us."Dizaei, a former Scotland Yard commander, was convicted and jailed in February for attempting to frame a man in a dispute about money.
His solicitors say the 47-year-old is considering suing the prison service for racism and failing to protect him from racist bullying at an open prison, HMP Prescoed in Monmouthshire, South Wales.
She said the prison had failed to take sufficient action to protect Dizaei, despite his lawyers writing a letter about threats to his safety a month ago.Dizaei has been transferred to another open prison, Leyhill in south Gloucestershire, while police investigate.
Last night, his wife said the death threats had left her "scared" and police had visited her on Thursday to put in place special protective measures and reassure her they are taking the matter seriously.A spokesman for Dizaei's solicitors said: "Dizaei maintains he was assaulted on Sunday 1 August. He was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries."A Prison Service spokesman said: "Two prisoners at HMP Prescoed claim they were the victim of an assault by the other on 1 August. Neither prisoner required treatment in hospital.