A DISTRAUGHT mother is terrified for her son's safety in prison after he was attacked for the second time.

And Elaine Boston claims prison bosses have broken their promise to protect her son Michael from bullies.

Michael Boston, 19, had to be treated in hospital for his injuries after he was punched unconscious and kicked in the head by Lee Raymond Biggs as he lay helpless on the floor at Lancaster Farms young offenders' institute.

Now his mother says Michael has threatened suicide and is terrified of what is going to happen to him next.

Elaine of Edgar Street, Huncoat, said: "This is the second time this has happened to my son. After the first incident I wrote to the prison governor and he assured me that nothing like this would happen again.

"But now it has. Michael has never been in prison before. He is terrified. I am frightened to death of what is going to happen to him while he is in there. He has locked himself in his cell on several occasions and has been to see the priest.

"I feel so helpless and I am his mother. All I can do is write to the governor, but even though they said nothing like this would happen again they also say that they can't watch him all the time.

"I've spoken to my solicitor but I can't think what else to do to help Michael. I just don't want anything else to happen to him."

Michael was convicted a year ago of burglary and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to two and a half years' detention.

A prison service spokesman said: "There was an incident earlier this year when the prisoner sustained injuries. The matter was fully investigated by police and internally and dealt with appropriately. There have been no further incidents since.

"The prison service will not tolerate this sort of thing and if it does then people can rest assured it will be investigated and reported to the police."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.