Prisoners 'found with banned fat jabs and glow-up shots' behind bars

Prisoners are taking illicit fat-busting jabs and glow-up shots that improve skin radiance behind bars , a report reveals.

Watchdogs have said weight loss jabs and skin improvers had been detected for the first time in one of the UK's jails. Steroids were also discovered HMP Thorn Cross near Warrington, Cheshire, according to the prison’s Independent Monitoring Board.

The IMB revealed: “Finds this year have changed and have started to include unregulated 12 weight loss injections and injections of ‘alluvi glow’, a research drug that purports to regenerate skin and muscle tissue.” Earlier this year Chief Inspector of Prisons , Charlie Taylor, said inmates in UK prisons were getting fat jabs and hair loss drugs shipped behind bars by drone gangs.

He said it made it possible for prisoners to pick from a “menu” of illicit substances banned in prisons. The banned substances are allegedly flown into prisons by gangs operating drones, some packages can weigh up to 4kg.

In an annual report Mr Taylor said: “This just shows the scale of the problem the Prison Service is facing. Along with weight-loss drugs and others for hair loss, prisoners can buy anabolic steroids along with illegal drugs like cannabis and ketamine.

“Prisoners in some jails are able to pick off a menu, choosing from a range of different drugs.” At HMP Thorn Cross inspectors also revealed the range of other drugs discovered after prisoners were subjected to mandatory drug tests – MDTs.

The report revealed: “Cocaine, ketamine and cannabis were the most widely detected illicit drugs on MDTs. Both cocaine and ketamine are more rapidly metabolised than other illicit drugs and so it is thought the men choose these, as there is a lower risk of a positive drug test.

“Intelligence reports, along with drug finds, suggest that steroid misuse is highly prevalent; in the month of April 2026 the only illicit drugs found on the estate were steroids.

“Illicit items continue to be found on a very regular basis from a combination of ad hoc finds, targeted searches from intelligence reports and random searches, which includes the use of sniffer dogs . Mobile phones and drugs are regularly found on site.”

The report also revealed the jail had set-up its own football league. IMB inspectors added: “In terms of team sports, the sports field is an underused resource.

"Encouragingly an inter-unit football match was held this spring and was a great success.

“Matches are to continue weekly, creating a prison unit football league. Gym instructor courses have finally started this reporting year, delivered by the prison gym staff and with around 10 men on the course. These courses will equip the men with qualifications to help them gain employment on release.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “This report recognises clear positives at HMP Thorn Cross, including low levels of violence and strong support for those with drug and alcohol addiction.

“But we know more must be done, which is why we have invested over £40 million in physical security measures to clamp down on illicit items.