Mark Fellows, 45, a hitman who previously shot dead Manchester gangland kingpins Paul Massey and John Kinsella, is among approximately 60 inmates living in segregation and isolation until their death. Fellows was last week convicted of murdering 33-year-old Kyle Bevan at HMP Wakefield following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, as reported by the Liverpool ECHO.
Details of the Prison Murder
Fellows, along with David Taylor, 64, and Lee Newell, 57, conspired to kill Bevan, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of his two-year-old stepdaughter Lola James. The court heard that Bevan was stabbed 25 times in his cell with a makeshift weapon on November 4 last year. CCTV footage captured the three killers following Bevan into his cell and leaving less than five minutes later. Fellows was seen checking the cell to ensure the murder had not been discovered before prison officers found Bevan dead the next morning.
Fellows' Criminal History
Fellows was already serving a whole life order at HMP Wakefield, known as 'Monster Mansion' for housing some of the UK's most dangerous criminals. He killed Paul 'Mr Big' Massey with an Uzi sub-machine gun outside his home in July 2015, and shot John Kinsella, who had carried Massey's coffin, as he walked his dog with his pregnant partner in Rainford in May 2018. Fellows received his second whole life order at Leeds Crown Court earlier this month, ensuring he will never be released.
Prison Security Concerns
A prison source stated that officers expect to remain on 'high-alert' as Fellows has 'nothing to lose' while behind bars, though he poses a greater risk to fellow inmates than to staff. He is likely to be kept in a specialist close supervision centre with minimal human interaction, spending most of his time isolated in his cell. These centres, established in 1998 across six high-security prisons, house around 60 of the country's most dangerous offenders, mostly convicted of serious violent crimes.
Privileges and Risks
Fellows may receive the bare legal minimum of prison privileges, similar to Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. This allows him to purchase goods from the prison canteen using money earned or sent by relatives, but he spends little time outside his cell. The decision on privileges may be influenced by the fact he has not yet targeted a prison officer.
Official Statements
Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers' Association, said: 'Prison officers continue to operate in one of the most violent and hostile working environments in the world, managing some of the most dangerous individuals in society. This case underlines the risks they face from prisoners who have nothing to lose, having been sentenced to die in custody. Mr Fellows will spend the rest of his life in the high-security estate, largely within a close supervision centre due to his sustained violent behaviour. Staff will continue to face serious risks as they protect the public by securely holding offenders determined to act on violent impulses. Their professionalism and commitment in doing so deserve recognition.'
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Prisons must be places of control and punishment to protect the public. While we cannot comment on individual prisoners, we're introducing a taskforce to reduce violence across the high security estate and investing an extra £35 million this year to bolster physical security. That's on top of over £40 million already invested in prison security.'
