Ouch: X-ray shows where stupid prisoner decided to hide a smuggled phone

By Andy Boxall August 5, 2016

prisoner x ray phone up his bottom news — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Where do you keep your phone when it’s not in use? In a bag, your pocket, or perhaps in a holster? We’re going to take a chance and say that even when your hands are full, you’ve probably not utilised a handy body cavity to stash it yet, but this stupid prisoner decided such a location was a great idea, and the prison has the cringeworthy x-rays to prove it.

While a guest of Her Majesty at Manchester’s Strangeways prison in the U.K., Stephen Cavanagh was looking for a sneaky place to hide a smuggled mobile phone, and decided the place where the sun doesn’t shine was the ideal spot. At this point, he was probably pretty pleased with his ruse. However, it didn’t last.

Related: The best cases for your iPhone 6S, or your Galaxy Note 5

He soon began to experience stomach pains, and of course, sought the advice of doctors at the prison. The staff were concerned he may have gallstones, which could quickly be diagnosed with an x-ray. Now, if you had inserted a fairly large solid object up your bottom and left it there while going about your daily business, you’d probably expect a few twinges now and then. Obviously not Cavanagh, who in a stroke of absolute genius, also didn’t have the foresight to remove the offending item before visiting the doctors.

Rather than spotting gallstones, doctors had what’s described in the Manchester Evening News as, “a very clear picture of a mobile phone with the keypad, screen, and speaker,” on the screen. Ouch. Even at this point, it seems the prisoner was confident his gross secret was still safe, and officers had to show him the x-ray to inform him the game was, quite literally, up.

As we all know, what goes up, must come down, and — apologies if you’re eating at the moment — the prisoner was taken to segregation and, “managed to eject the phone from his system and flush it down the toilet.” A check with a security wand proved nothing metallic remained in his possession. Cavanagh, already serving more than two years, got another six months aded to his sentence for his efforts.

Just a reminder, don’t try this at home, especially if you own an iPhone 6S Plus or a Galaxy Note.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

Huawei Mate X2 folding phone patent shows big design change over the original

huawei mate x review hinge

The Huawei Mate X2 is rumored to be Huawei’s next major foldable smartphone release, and may potentially arrive toward the end of 2020. Rumors about the phone have been spreading, including some possible standout design features, and how it will differ from the current Huawei Mate X. Let's take a closer look at the Huawei Mate X2.
Huawei Mate X2, not the Mate Xs
Huawei is expected to launch a revised version of the original Mate X folding phone during Mobile World Congress 2020. It’s currently known as the Huawei Mate Xs, and isn’t the Mate X2. The Mate Xs is likely to be very similar to the first Mate X on the outside, but with the new Kirin 990 processor inside, an improved hinge, and a tougher folding display.
Huawei Mate X2 announcement and release
The Huawei Mate X2 has been rumored for release after summer this year, sometime between July and September, making it possible the phone will arrive soon after the IFA 2020 technology trade show. The timing may mean the Mate X2’s announcement will come at the same time as a Mate 40 phone from Huawei.
Huawei Mate X2 design

What will the Huawei Mate X2 look like? Unlike the Mate X, a patent filed by Huawei shows what could be the Mate X2 with a screen that folds inward, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold. However, the design will allow for a side bar down one edge, which makes the phone easier to hold with one hand, something we noted about the current Mate X. This bar has a display on one side, which could be used to show notifications. There doesn’t seem to be any other outer display.

Mobile

iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 8 Plus: What are the differences?

Apple iPhone X Review

The iPhone X was more than just another iPhone. It marked a top-to-bottom redesign with a bright and colorful edge-to-edge OLED screen, depth-sensing front-facing cameras, wireless charging, and the most powerful Apple-designed processor ever engineered to date. In other words, it was the Cadillac of smartphones, and that was reflected in its $1,000 price tag.

While the iPhone X and its successor, the iPhone XS, have now been discontinued by Apple, replaced by the iPhone 11 Pro, you can still find one if you look. The price of an iPhone X has dropped significantly, but the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are cheaper still, and they also offer a redesigned all-glass back, improved cameras, the same speedy processor, and longer-lasting batteries. Apple is also still selling the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Mobile

The $440 Realme X2 Pro has what it takes to be one of 2019’s best phones

realme x2 pro hands on review news features back hand

I’ve had the pleasure of using the vast majority of new smartphones released this year, including ones that cost about $100 and go all the way up to $2,000. The Realme X2 Pro starts at 400 euros, 330 British pounds, or about $440, and it's not the absolute smartphone bargain of 2019, but it may be one of the best smartphones you can buy right now.

"Who?" you’re thinking. Realme is an emerging brand from China, born from the same parent company as OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo. I wrote about it as a company to watch around this time last year, and although its first few releases were mediocre, the X2 Pro is lightyears beyond them, and surpasses several big-name phones released this year.