Police have provided an update on the condition of child murderer Ian Huntley, who was attacked in prison last week. The 52-year-old remains in hospital in a serious condition after being struck multiple times with a metal bar to the head at HMP Frankland in County Durham on February 26.
Huntley was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where he is still being treated. A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said on Wednesday: 'There has been no change in the 52-year-old man’s condition overnight – he remains in hospital in a serious condition.'
Due to the severity of his injuries, Huntley is not expected to return to Frankland jail and is likely to be moved to Ashworth Secure Hospital. A source said: 'The most likely destination for him if he gets out of hospital is Ashworth. His injuries are such that he is unlikely to return to Frankland, at least initially.'
Triple murderer Anthony Russell has been named as the main suspect, though police and prison officials have not formally confirmed this. Huntley was placed in an induced coma at the scene by a paramedic and a doctor who flew to the prison. He was transported by road to hospital due to the risk of complications during air evacuation.
Huntley is serving a life sentence for the murders of 10-year-old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire in 2002. He was jailed in 2005 and is not eligible for parole until 2042. This is the third attack on Huntley during his 24 years in prison; he was previously scalded with boiling water in 2005 and slashed in the neck in 2010.
