Gang leader Kane Barratt, 20, from Edgeley, Stockport, managed to post comments and photographs about life in prison on the internet social networking site using a mobile phone.

Barratt's use of Facebook from behind bars has now sparked a major investigation.

Using the name Kane Reilly, Barratt:
* Published pictures of himself taken on a mobile phone posing topless in his cell
* Asked the chilling question: "Who should I put on my hit list today?"
* Told his girlfriend he was looking forward to seeing her, described his visits to the gym, and chatted with pals who were in trouble with the police

Barratt is serving five and a half years after pleading guilty to two robberies and three burglaries.

He led a gang that burgled several homes, threatened victims with machetes and stole cars during a six-week crime spree in the Greater Manchester area.

"Prisoners do not have access to mobile phones or the internet and cannot personally contribute to websites," said a spokesperson for the Prison Service.

"This form of media is totally unregulated and we have no power to remove a social networking profile from the internet.

"Body Orifice Security Scanners will soon be introduced. These will be supported by high sensitivity metal detectors and mobile phone signal detectors.

"The Ministry of Justice has contacted Facebook in order to seek their help in assisting the Prison Service in preventing prisoners from making inappropriate postings on their website."