Richard Branson goes to jail, by Paul Anderson - 26th January 2007
(Credit: Herald Sun)

Virgin airline chief Sir Richard Branson secretly visited young inmates at maximum-security Port Phillip Prison.

Branson, on holidays in Australia, took time to impart some motivation last week and listened to 35 business-minded prisoners in the jail's young offenders unit.

Aged 18 to 25 and serving time for crimes other than sex offences, they were each given a signed copy of Branson's book, Screw It, Let's Do It -- Lessons in Life.

All the prisoners Branson visited are involved in an in-house educational program focusing on business management.

The inmates' company, called Hard Yards, produces T-shirts.

All money raised is donated to the Salvation Army and Royal Children's Hospital.

Port Phillip Prison public affairs director Tim Hall said Branson had said: "This project is unlike anything I've ever seen.

"I'm blown away by the optimism and the positive outlook . . . I found it truly inspirational."

The visit was arranged by the Pilotlight group, which brings business leaders in contact with society's battlers.

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