Ian Huntley, the convicted murderer of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, has had his Xbox confiscated by prison officers at HMP Frankland as punishment for breaching discipline rules, sources have confirmed.
The 51-year-old, who will turn 52 next week, is said to be 'upset' after guards removed the games console following a search of his cell that uncovered unauthorised items including DVDs, USB sticks and magazines. Huntley reportedly admitted to hoarding contraband.
In addition to losing his Xbox privileges, Huntley has been moved to a section of the Category A prison in County Durham typically reserved for elderly inmates. One insider told The Sun: 'He loved his Xbox and played it all the time. But he's most upset at being moved from his cell to one on the bottom floor next to all the old fogies on the wing.' The source added that other prisoners find the situation amusing and that Huntley, described as 'quite arrogant', has been 'taken down a peg or two'.
Huntley is serving two life sentences for the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002. He was a caretaker at their school and had taken part in the initial search for the girls before their bodies were discovered in a ditch on 17 August 2002. He will not be eligible for parole until 2042.
Last month, Huntley's daughter Samantha Bryan received a blunt letter from him rejecting her request to visit, calling her motives into question. This is not the first high-profile incident involving Huntley in prison; in 2010, he was attacked by a fellow inmate who slashed his throat.
