French warden caught sub-letting prison home

Arles, France, is a popular tourist hotspot - but not normally because of its jail Photo: Patentboy

Security is always a concern when renting out a holiday home abroad. For tourists planning a trip to Arles, France, though, one listing promised the maximum security possible. The "luxury house" cost just €75 a night (or €450 a week) with the premises said to be "very secure". Why? Because of one simple catch: the home was located inside a prison.

The property belonged to an officer who had been working at the Arles prison for less than a year. After converting their garage and moving in with his wife and child, he was sub-letting the rest of the home online to strangers.

The house, which is located on the premises of one of the country's highest security jails, would see lucky tenants shack up within metres of 150 long-term inmates. Nonetheless, all outsiders needed to get access to the property was a swipecard and a code for the entrance to the grounds.

"Luxury house to rent. €75 a night, €450 a week. In a 'very secure' residence," read the advert, according to Le Dauphine, which reports that the tenants were disguised as members of his family to get away with their cheeky holiday home.

"But one night "guests" got the wrong house," and ended up going into the home of another prison officer. Once discovered, the officer's rental listing was removed from the site and the officer has reportedly not been seen at work since. He is currently being investigated by prison authorities.