Ian Huntley, the convicted killer of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, has sustained serious injuries following a violent assault with a metal bar inside a maximum security prison workshop. The attack occurred on Thursday morning at HMP Frankland near Durham, prompting an immediate police investigation and hospitalisation of the inmate.
Details of the Prison Assault
Durham Constabulary confirmed that a male prisoner, widely understood to be Huntley, was assaulted within the prison premises. According to official statements, the victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to an unnamed hospital for urgent medical treatment. A force spokesman emphasised that detectives are now actively liaising with prison staff to unravel the circumstances surrounding this disturbing incident.
Condition Described as "Touch and Go"
Initial reports from The Sun indicate that the 52-year-old Huntley was knocked unconscious during the assault, with a source describing his condition as precarious. The Press Association further revealed that the attack took place in a prison workshop, leaving Huntley in a pool of blood. This violent episode marks the latest in a series of attempts on Huntley's life, despite him being under close observation to prevent such occurrences.
Background of the Soham Murders
Ian Huntley, a former school caretaker, was convicted for the brutal murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002. The two young girls vanished after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, to purchase sweets. Huntley subsequently disposed of their bodies in a ditch. He is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
Previous Attacks and Prison Violence
This is not the first time Huntley has been targeted behind bars. In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed Huntley's neck with a homemade weapon, inflicting a severe 7-inch wound that required 21 stitches. Fowkes openly expressed hope for Huntley's death, labelling him a "notorious child killer."
The incident at HMP Frankland also highlights broader concerns about violence within the UK's maximum security prisons. Recently, Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi was accused of terrorist attacks on prison officers using hot cooking oil and makeshift weapons. Additionally, former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins died following an alleged attack at HMP Wakefield last October.
Official Responses and Ongoing Investigations
A Prison Service spokesperson acknowledged the incident, stating that a prisoner is receiving treatment but declined further comment due to the ongoing police investigation. The North East Ambulance Service reported dispatching two ambulance crews and requesting support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, with the patient ultimately transported to hospital by road.
This attack follows a similar pattern of violence at HMP Frankland, where Killamarsh killer Damien Bendall recently received an additional life sentence for attempting to murder another inmate with a claw hammer in a prison workshop. A prison officer witnessing that attack initially believed the victim had been killed, though he ultimately survived.
The assault on Ian Huntley underscores the persistent dangers within the prison system, particularly for high-profile inmates serving sentences for heinous crimes. As authorities continue their investigation, questions remain about the effectiveness of security measures in preventing such violent incidents in maximum security facilities.
