Female prisoners work at McDonald’s on release day: Inmates from Britain’s ‘most comfortable prison’ serve Big Mac and fries to paying customers at a nearby restaurant

McDonald’s customers are being served burgers and fries by inmates at a prison that housed some of Britain’s most notorious criminals, MailOnline can reveal.

This prisoner was seen preparing meals for customers during his release from Askham Grange, located in rural Yorkshire and described as the most comfortable prison in Britain.

After completing her shift, she walked unaccompanied for 40 minutes back to the former mansion in the picturesque village of Askham Richard. Near York.

She bought some ice cream before the two-mile walk, during which she donned an orange high-visibility vest over her McDonald’s uniform.

She spoke to the guards over the prison’s intercom and the gate was opened to let her in at the end of her day of freedom.

This prisoner was seen preparing meals for customers during his release from Askham Grange, located in rural Yorkshire and described as the most comfortable prison in Britain

After completing her shift, she walked unaccompanied for 40 minutes back to the former manor house in the picturesque village of Askham Richard, near York. She spoke to the guards over the prison’s intercom and the gate was opened to let her in at the end of her day of freedom

He prepared meals for numerous customers during their shift at the busy McDonald’s restaurant in the Bilbrough Top Service area off the A64 York Leeds Road

He prepared meals for numerous customers during their shift at the busy McDonald’s restaurant in the Bilbrough Top Service area off the A64 York Leeds Road.

The identity of the female inmate, who appeared to be in her early 40s, is unknown, as is the nature of her crimes.

Last month it was announced that a Reform leader jailed for a 20-year campaign of violence against her husband had been moved to Askham Grange just five months after her conviction.

Sheree Spencer, 45, was jailed for four years by a judge who described the torture of her husband Richard as “the worst case of coercive control” she had ever seen.

Throughout their relationship she made 46-year-old Richard’s life hell, with verbal attacks and punches that sometimes left him lying on the floor in a fetal position to protect himself.

One time she defecated on the floor and forced him to clean up the floor, and another time she hit him with a wine bottle so hard that his ear was permanently disfigured.

Other former inmates include Anne Darwin, who was jailed with her ex-husband John after she helped him fake his own death in a kayaking accident in 2002.

Ms Darwin was also jailed at Askham Grange with street murderer Tracie Andrews, who murdered her fiancé Lee Harvey, 25, and was jailed for 14 years.

After completing her shift, she walked unaccompanied for 40 minutes back to the former mansion in the picturesque village of Askham Richard. Near York

The identity of the female inmate, who appeared to be in her early 40s, is unknown, as is the nature of her crimes. She was seen preparing orders for customers

Notorious murderer Mary Bell, who strangled two young children when she was 11, served the final part of her sentence at Askham Grange before being released in 1980.

Former royal aide Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York’s former hairdresser, was also there after she was found guilty of stabbing and stabbing her businessman boyfriend.

Other high-profile killers included former Army sniper Rena Salmon, who shot her wealthy husband’s pregnant mistress – and twisted teenager Sarah Davey.

Davey was 14 when she and 15-year-old Lisa Healey tortured and murdered 71-year-old Lily Lilley, then dumped her body in a garbage can and pushed it through the streets before throwing it into a canal.

Shannon Matthews’ mother, Karen Matthews, had hoped to finish her sentence there too.

But their hopes for an easy life have been dashed as the prison now has its own daycare center and inmates guilty of crimes against children are banned from prison.

The female inmate was seen walking to her workplace on the day she was released from Askham Grange Prison

Askham Grange was the first open women’s prison in the United Kingdom when it opened in 1947 and also pioneered programs to rehabilitate its female prisoners from 1973.

Inmates have typically already served three years or more in other prisons and are transferred to Askham to serve the final part of their sentence.

With only three years left on their sentence, many prisoners are given internships outside of prison to teach them new skills.

The prison also has its own garden center and cafe – the Grange Coffee Shop – just a stone’s throw from the entrance.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “Prisoners undergo rigorous risk assessments before they are allowed to be released on a temporary basis.”

“They also have to adhere to strict rules and face a longer prison sentence if they fail to comply.”

MailOnline has contacted McDonald’s for comment.