THE victim of a cocky criminal who appeared to be living the high life in a Leyland jail during a TV programme has blasted the BBC for turning the crook into a star.

The Bolton man, who asked not to be named, watched in horror as Jason Powell - the muscleman who beat him up and robbed him - appeared on BBC 2 show Prison Weekly, living it up in one of Garth Prison's plush wings.

On the programme, Powell freely boasted about the comfy life he was enjoying behind bars, commenting on his hotel-like surroundings in the new wing.

He bragged: "I'm living in a newly refurbished wing.

"There are not many of use so we have access to a phone all the time."

His time behind bars is a stark contrast to the time the Bolton accountant Powell attacked has had to endure.

Brute Powell smashed his way into the single man's home, which he had only lived in for a week. Powell proceeded to smash it up, beat up his victim before making him carry his video recorder to a waiting car - where Powell's callous friends were waiting and laughing.

Ever since the attack, the victim has lived in fear, and only started rebuilding his life when Powell was locked up for four years -but not before he had lost two jobs, turned to drink and even considered suicide.

He could not contain his anger at seeing Powell being portrayed as a TV star, saying: "Powell was larger than life on there. I was warned he would be on but I didn't expect this to happen.

"He has been living a better life than we do. I can't afford carpets and he has left me a wreck. It certainly dispells the myth that crime doesn't pay."

There was no answer at Garth Prison, while the BBC declined to comment.

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