While in Horfield, Straffen was described by former politician Peter Baker, briefly a fellow prisoner, as always being conspicuous when he was exercising, being much taller than anyone else and wearing distinctive clothing for a special watch prisoner. Baker thought the "long, emaciated, miserable figure" looked "like a dying butterfly or a caged animal" and reported rumours that Straffen made application to the governor every month to see if a date had been set for his release. In August 1958, Straffen was moved to HM Prison Cardiff when the regime at Horfield was changed to a more liberal one. However, he was reported to have been transferred back in June 1960.