Inmate blasts Madrid prison with viral 1-star Google Review after 14 years inside

Madrid V Penitentiary Center, situated in the municipality of Soto del Real, was established in 1995. (Representational)

A former inmate of the Madrid V Penitentiary Center has taken to Google Reviews to express his discontent with the prison, capturing widespread attention and sparking a flurry of reactions online.

Jose Perez, who spent 14 years behind the walls of the facility, left a one-star review that detailed his experiences and multiple failed escape attempts. Perez's review, which has since gone viral, provides a rare glimpse into life inside the Spanish prison.

"Fourteen years later I get out of this f****** prison, four times I tried to escape with Johnny el Mazas," Perez wrote. "I remember the last time they caught us climbing the wall, the son of a b**** tower guard hit us so hard with his baton that we didn't sleep all night. Good prison, the drugs were easy to get in and there weren't many rapes, but to escape from the prison you had to climb a 3m wall and that puts the inmates in danger because it's a risk. That's why I give it a bad rating... the rest is a good prison."

The review talks of his escape attempts against the prison's formidable 3-metre walls and vigilant guards. He also said that there was relatively low violence among inmates and even admitted that drugs were ‘easy to get in’ , citing it as a positive.

Perez's account is not isolated; other former inmates have also shared their experiences. Another review, written by an unidentified prisoner, humorously noted their ongoing struggle to leave the prison after six years, adding that the "staff won't let me."

In a translated review, another inmate recounted a failed escape attempt, stating, "Very bad prison, I tried to escape once with Mazas and they caught us, right now I'm still inside but they haven't seen my cell phone hahaha. Otherwise good food, edible, sleepable beds."

Not all reviews were purely negative. Clara Munoz Coto gave the prison two stars, commenting on the mediocre food, uncomfortable beds, and subpar staff, advising potential "guests" to avoid the facility if possible.

Madrid V Penitentiary Center, situated in the municipality of Soto del Real, was established in 1995 and can accommodate up to 2,000 inmates. It is known for its unusual amenities, including a swimming pool, squash courts, handball, basketball and soccer courts, and well-equipped gyms.