On the evening of Sunday, July 30, 2000, a 60-strong mob, led by notorious hardman Vincent Clay, launched a violent riot at the newly opened Forest Bank Prison in Pendlebury.

The rioters, wearing pillowcases as hoods, quickly seized control of their wing, barricading themselves in and lighting cells on fire while destroying furniture and ripping off doors.

This escalation of violence also targeted other inmates, including a notorious child killer, and was described later as an 'orgy of violence'.

Just days earlier, the prison had celebrated its official opening with Princess Anne and former Beirut hostage Terry Waite present. Built at a cost of £46 million, Forest Bank was heralded as a 'prison for the 21st Century'.

Terry Waite remarked on the facilities, stating, "Some people might say they are far too luxurious," and emphasized that loss of liberty is a significant punishment regardless of conditions.

Despite a 'copybook' start reported by directors, frustrations among the 1,000 male inmates were mounting due to ongoing teething problems.

The tension culminated when a malfunction in the telephone system led to an inmate throwing a pool ball at a guard. This act triggered further protests and several fires, rendering parts of D block unsafe.

In response, as a police helicopter hovered above, rioters used a ripped steel staircase as a battering ram to breach cell doors.

Reinforcements from Strangeways Prison and a specially trained 'Tornado Team' were deployed to regain control.

After a seven-hour standoff, the rioters surrendered around 3:30 am. The aftermath revealed an estimated £100,000 in damages, and the prison wing was closed for 19 days for repairs.

In July, four leaders of the riot were sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court, admitting to prison mutiny and violent disorder. Prosecutor Andrew O'Byrne described their actions as an 'orgy of vandalism'.

One of the main antagonists, Vincent Clay, was notably absent from the dock. In November 2000, he was shot dead on a street in Pendleton, Salford, after a scuffle. At the time, he was awaiting trial for drug offences, having built a 'fearsome reputation' in the Salford underworld. His killers have never been apprehended.