Convicted Killer: Oscar Pistorius, South African double amputee, celebrates 30th birthday at ‘lush low-risk prison full of greenery’

Oscar Pistorious has celebrated his 30th birthday in a ‘family like atmosphere’ surrounded by acres of gardens and trees, despite being sentenced to murder earlier this year. The shamed South African double amputee, who murdered Reeve Steenkamp on Valentine's Day in 2013, won his claim to be moved to a newly refurbished, "more relaxed” prison aimed at “low-risk non violent offenders" and disabled inmates.

Initially placed in the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II jail, notoriously overcrowded with 8,000 inmates. Pistorius has been moved to Atteridgeville Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where he now lives among around 1,000 prisoners. He reportedly received a tremendous amount of bags full of birthday cards and letters at the prison, so they were subsequently sent to his family who live a few miles away.

His defence lawyer, Llewellyn Curlews said he used to “live in daily fear, refusing to eat prison food because of the bounty” on his head, but this new prison has given him a “very different” quality of life.

He added: “It is definitely one of the better prisons, a flagship facility if you like, because it is a much smaller set up than the one Pistorious has come from. “For Pistorius it is the idea situation. He will be able to access much more consistent care for his mental health. “There is less pressure on the system and the staff because all the prisoners are considered to be low risk and easier to manage.

“He will have to undertake some work in the kitchen or tending the vegetable gardens in order to get some credit which he will need when it comes to applying for parole.” As part of his rehabilitation programme, the former athlete is only required to grow vegetables and work in the orchards. The prison has recently undergone a multimillion pound revamp and now boasts upgraded bathrooms for disabled inmates. A family member told the Mail: “It is the ideal place for Oscar. “It is all on one level so he can move around easily, and the bathroom facilities are now much less dangerous for him. “There are some worthwhile programmes of all kinds on offer and some amazing things are happening for him. “He is in the ideal place for where he needs to be at the moment.” Pistorius is currently serving a six-year sentence for murder but prosecutors are calling for a longer jail term.