Southend men held in Spain moved to new prison wing

 

TWO men who are being held in Spain on suspicion of attempted murder have been moved to a new prison wing with better conditions. Kyle Thain, 24, of Sandringham Road, Southend, and James Harris, 29, of Pelham Road, Southend, have been moved to a new wing of Fontcalent prison, Alicante. The pals, who have been held without charge since July 8, have been relocated to Modulo Respecto, a part of the jail which should make life a little easier for them as they fight for freedom. Jay Thain, 29, Kyle’s older brother, said: “The new wing is for people who are better behaved. It is a lot cleaner and the food is better. “They have a lot more facilities. There is a proper gym and a table tennis table, it is much better for them.” Mr Thain said his brother and James are doing as much as they can to help keep themselves occupied, stay positive and pass the time. He said: “They are trying to learn Spanish and Kyle is drawing.” Kyle and James were arrested as they went to board a plane home after a lads weekend away. The friends, both former pupils of the King John School, Thundersley, are accused of beating up and stabbing two men in a bar near where they were staying. However, the pair maintain they never even went to the bar and their families say there has been a terrible case of mistaken identity. Since the lads were arrested Jay has worked tirelessly, with the help of family and friends, to get both men back home. Sharon Harris, Kyle’s mum, has put her house in Brunswick Road, Southend, on the market to help towards legal fees, which have already topped £10,000. Meanwhile, family and friends have been busy organising a series of fundraising events. James and Kyle, along with another pal Joe Elliot, 24, landed in Cabo Roig on Friday, July 1. All three were quizzed on Tuesday, July 5, at Murcia Airport before Kyle and James were held on suspicion of attempted murder. A getaway car used by the two attackers is still being sought by Spanish police and once found is likely to help with the case. Jay said: “In August everything shuts, the court circuit closes and nothing gets done.”