"Rustling rascal to do porridge" (Britspeak question)

Factual Questions
1

Okay, so I was watching the Wallace and Gromit cartoon “A Close Shave” (because the Cartoon Network showed the 3 W&G cartoons today, not a bad way to ring out the old year). This phrase appeared as a column heading in a newspaper Wallace was reading, and it refers to a sheep-rustler going to prison for life.

What the heck does “porridge” mean in this context? Maybe it’s a pun on the name of a British prison? Any help would be appreciated.

Happy New Millenium to all!

2

No. To do porridge just means to do time in jail.

3

I’ve had a bit of search, but I’m going to have to have a WAG at the term’s origin: porridge is a reference to traditional prison food.

IIRC in A Close Shave Gromit’s gun fires porridge.

4

picmr

Ding! ding! ding! ding!ding!

Correctomundo.

5

Thanks, everyone!

6

Just click here for all Porridge related fun (rated SBSC for Seventies British SitCom).

It’s got screensavers and everything!