A CRIME prevention worker from Cirencester has given an insight into the conditions athlete Oscar Pistorius could face in a South African prison.

Lisa Rowles has worked with South Africa inmates so has first-hand experience of what life behind bars could be like for the Paralympian, jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

It is expected that the 27 year-old amputee sprinter will be held in a one-man cell in the hospital wing of a prison in Pretoria.

Miss Rowles told the Standard: “I don’t know the prison Pistorius is in but I don’t think his disability will play a large part is his prison experience.

“When you consider he’s a world class athlete – it’s not like he’s unable to transport himself from place to place.

Asked if the athlete's celebrity status, or colour would make him a target, Miss Rowles said: “The last time I was running a programme in a South African prison there were three white guys to 20 black guys, but they didn’t receive any differential treatment.

“He may be a target but he might also be seen as a hero as he’s a world class athlete who has overcome disability and the one thing he’s got in common with the other prisoners is that they’ve all done something wrong.

“He’s not a sex offender and there are innumerable people in there for murder.”

Miss Rowles confirms some prisoners in South Africa are forced to perform sexual favours on other inmates in return for protection but doubts Pistorius will be put in such a situation.

Asked whether Pistorius could maintain his training regime behind bars, Miss Rowles said: “The food at lunchtime in the prison I visited consisted of a couple of eggs and bread. That may not be indicative of the diet in every prison but if that’s what they get it won’t be a lavish diet.

“One of the big differences I noticed was the number of beds to a cell – up to 18 with one small shower block. In high summer I can imagine it’s an interesting place in terms of sweat and testosterone.

“But there are more green open spaces for recreation so I’d be surprised if he wasn’t able to train.”

Pistorius, who became the first athlete to compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, killed Ms Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.

He says he shot her by mistake, fearing there was an intruder in his house in Pretoria.

Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, reality TV star and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets fired by Pistorius through a toilet door.

The International Paralympic Committee has said it would not allow Pistorius to run at any of its events for five years, even if he were released early.

Miss Rowles works as a lead facilitator for Khulisa UK who run violence reduction programmes across the country, for vulnerable adults and young people in the UK, and their approach is restorative justice.

She tailors South African programmes, tools and techniques for UK audiences, including art, drama, narrative programmes run in custodial and non-custodial settings.