Phillip Thompson, 17, spends 12 hours a night locked in a small, windowless cell. There is only a tiny vent to cool the air and he is constantly disturbed by noise made by the 200-plus other inmates at Ashfield Young Offender Institution.
The cell has been Phillip's home since he was found guilty of robbery and aggravated burglary 18 months ago. He hadn't been out of the institution until a few weeks ago when he was allowed to go mountain walking as part of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
The award has helped thousands of young people in its 50-year history but only a small percentage of them have been young offenders. Ashfield, in Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire, is one of 16 young offender institutions in the country offering the scheme.
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