SOHAM monster Ian Huntley was bludgeoned with a spiked metal pole in jail, with his attacker yelling: “I’ve done it, I’ve done it. I’ve killed him, I’ve killed him.”
The ambush left , 52, unconscious in a pool of blood with his head “split in two” after being hit six times.
Monster Ian Huntley was bludgeoned with a spiked metal pole in jailCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Triple killer Anthony Russell is suspected of battering himCredit: Enterprise
An air ambulance helicopter was on site but Huntley was taken to hospital by road
Medics and staff fought for an hour to stem the bleeding as and an air ambulance raced to HMP Frankland, Co Durham.
Ex-school caretaker Huntley, whose murder of ten-year-olds in Soham, Cambs, shocked the nation in 2002, is understood to have been placed in an induced coma as he was taken to hospital.
Triple killer Anthony Russell, 43, is in a workshop using the makeshift weapon.
Inmates cheered and applauded as Russell was led away in cuffs. He was taken to segregation but had not been arrested last night.
A woman visiting a lag at the jail said of Huntley: “He’s in a bad, bad way. I shouldn’t say it, but it’s what he deserves.”
unfolded just after 9am at a recycling workshop.
Russell, 43, is said to have had a brief argument with Huntley before launching into the assault.
He battered Huntley at least six times around the head with the pole. A source said the improvised weapon had a spike in its end.
A source said: “It was total chaos, and a pretty horrific scene. It all happened really quickly and started with Russell shouting at Huntley, possibly to stage an argument, before battering him with the metal pole.
“He whacked him six times with it and there is not much coming back from that.
Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells were murdered by ex-school caretaker HuntleyCredit: Rex
HMP Frankland, where the attack took placeCredit: Paramount Plus
Huntley was unconscious in a pool of blood with his head ‘split in two’ after the attackCredit: PA:Press Association
“He had grabbed it from the workshop and it is one normally used as part of a large crate that all the recycling goes into.
“It also had a spike in one end, and that got lodged into Huntley, making the injuries even worse.
“He was in a terrible state and in a pool of blood with his head basically split in two.
“All the medics and officers who were on the scene were saying he was dead and that he wouldn’t make it.
“He was bashed to bits and was not breathing.
“They were trying to stem the flow of blood and were struggling to do that and Huntley was completely unresponsive.
“Sirens were going off and there was loads of shouting. officers got Russell into handcuffs pretty quickly.
“But he just looked really calm and pleased with himself as he was led away, and others were clapping, shouting and whistling to him as he shouted that he had killed him.”
The attack comes after paedophile ex-Lostprophets singer , 48, was last October.
Two inmates have appeared in court charged with his murder.
Huntley has been assaulted in jail several times before, including having his throat slashed in 2010.
After he was targeted yesterday, Frankland was placed in lockdown with inmates confined to their cells.
The 850-prisoner Category A prison holds murderers including , 57, ex-cop , 53, and , 55, plus several terrorists.
Police and medics rushed there after staff called them at 9.23am, soon after jail workshops open.
Holly Wells was murdered by monster HuntleyCredit: Collect
Jessica Chapman was also murdered, with their deaths shocking the nation in 2002Credit: MMP
But although an air ambulance helicopter was on site, Huntley was taken to hospital by road.
A separate source said: “Huntley was hit in a really targeted attack.
“Everyone was shocked but not that surprised afterwards.
“It is shocking this was allowed to happen but somebody was bound to get to him at some point.
“However, the officers that were on duty will face some pretty harsh questions over what they were doing.
“They knew Huntley was a target so should have been sticking to him like glue.
“But prisons are understaffed at the moment and many of the officers are not very experienced.
“None of the staff and inmates at are expecting to see Huntley back from hospital very soon.
“And some of the prisoners are ringing home and saying things like that they don’t feel safe in there, especially with what happened to at Wakefield.
“There is a feeling violence is out of control in jails. Russell was taken to segregation and seemed glad about what he had done.
“He was saying he had killed three people, and this was nothing.
“He has nothing to lose and there is not much the prison or police can do, except stick him in ‘seg’.
“He is skinny and not tough or imposing so it’s not that surprising he used a weapon for an attack.”
Huntley was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2003.
His 40-year minimum term means he cannot be eligible for parole until 2042.
Last summer, we told how he sparked outrage and angered other inmates by like the ones that pals Holly and Jessica were last seen in.
Last month Huntley was stripped of and other privileges after unauthorised items including DVDs and magazines were found during a search of his cell.
Inmates cheered and applauded as Russell was led away in cuffsCredit: West Midlands Police
Paedophile ex-Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was stabbed to death at Wakefield jail last yearCredit: AFP
Russell, of Coventry, murdered Julie Williams, 58, her son David, 32, and Nicole McGregor, 31 during a week-long spree in October 2020.
He admitted the killings and was found guilty of raping Nicole, who had been five months pregnant.
His whole-life tariff means he will never be freed.
Crown prosecutor Sati Ruck said while the reasons behind Russell’s killing spree may never be known, it was clear “all the attacks were deliberate, cold-hearted and designed to achieve his own ends”.
Yesterday, a spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “A 52-year-old prisoner who was injured during this morning’s assault in the workshop at remains in a serious condition in hospital following treatment for head injuries.
“Forensic teams have examined the scene of the attack throughout the day to gather evidence.
“A suspect, a male prisoner in his mid 40s, has been identified by officers investigating the incident.
“He has not been arrested at this stage but remains in detention within the prison.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “A prisoner is receiving treatment after an incident at HMP Frankland on Thursday morning.”
North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 9.23am to reports of an incident at HMP Frankland.
“We despatched two ambulance crews to the scene and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
“One patient was transported to hospital by road.”
LONG BEEN A LAGS’ TARGET
By
IAN Huntley has been a target for lags since he was first locked up.
In 2010 he had his throat slit by Damien Fowkes, who was given a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years for the attack.
Huntley had 21 stitches and was left with a scar from his jugular to the other side of his windpipe.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw refused his bid for £100,000 compo.
Then, in 2018, Huntley said a convict tried to slit his throat a second time with a razor blade attached to a toothbrush — but he overpowered him and called guards.
Huntley is believed to have tried to kill himself at least three times — before his 2003 trial he was reportedly left in a coma following an overdose.
Three years later, he was found unconscious in his cell at HMP Wakefield after another suspected overdose and was treated in nearby Pinderfields hospital.
And in 2012 he was hospitalised again by a third suicide bid.
In 2019, we reported that Huntley ended up in solitary confinement for lashing out at officers and telling them to “f*** off”.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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