A woman is planning to sue Whitemoor prison after her husband was banned from seeing her children for more than two and a half years for no reason.
Out of the blue in 2013 Blake Blake-Tracy was told his family visiting rights were being stopped which meant he could no longer see his two step children or anyone under the age of 18.
Last month, after a ban of 31 months, he was suddenly told they could visit again after being reviewed and told he posed no risk to children.
His wife Mandi Blake-Tracy said: “It was stopped out of the blue and started up again out of the blue, with no meetings, no real reason given other than a review taking place.
“It has affected my 13 year old daughter massively and you can imagine the impact it has had on my husband.
“In 11 years he has never been in trouble in prison, he is not in for child offences, there are no violence issues with children, and we have no idea why he was suddenly told they couldn’t visit.
“His only failing, if you can call it that, is he doesn’t engage with psychological or counselling sessions or educational courses, which isn’t a requirement, but other than that he is classed as a role model and exemplary prisoner.”
The pair married inside Whitemoor in 2011 and both children attended the wedding and legally changed their surnames.
Between 2010 and 2013 they enjoyed visits to their step dad and since being in Whitemoor since 2005 he has had scores of visits from family members who were under 18.
But in April 2013 Mrs Blake-Tracy visited with photos of her children and they were withheld by prison staff on arrival.
A month later Blake Blake-Tracy was told a risk assessment had been carried out and it was decided he would be subject to safeguarding children measures.
A solicitor who worked on his case said: “He has had contact and visits with children since 2007 and from his step children since 2010.
“It is difficult to envisage such a case in such circumstances where an allegation made over 10 years ago and never substantiated is considered a strong ground to withdraw contact with children.”
Blake Blake-Tracy was jailed for 22 years for the attempted murder of a police officer in Cambridge in 2004.
The Ministry of Justice said they could not comment on individual cases.
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