Child murderer Ian Huntley seriously injured after being attacked with metal bar in prison

The former caretaker killed 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire on 4 August 2002, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.

LAST UPDATE | 52 mins ago

DOUBLE MURDERER IAN Huntley suffered serious injuries after he was attacked with a metal bar in a workshop at a maximum security jail in England.

Durham Constabulary said a prisoner, understood to be Huntley, was assaulted this morning at HMP Frankland near Durham before being rushed to an unnamed hospital.

A force spokesman said: “Police were alerted to an assault which had taken place within HMP Frankland in Durham this morning.

“A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital.

“A police investigation is now under way into the circumstances of the incident and detectives are liaising with staff at the prison.”

The Sun, which first reported the attack, said the 52-year-old was knocked unconscious with a metal pole and quoted a source saying his condition was “touch and go”.

The Press Association understood the attack took place in a prison workshop and that Huntley was left in a pool of blood.

This attack was the latest attempt on Huntley’s life. It is thought he was being kept under close observation to prevent similar attacks.

Former caretaker Huntley killed 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on 4 August 2002, then dumped their bodies in a ditch.

flowers-are-left-at-st-andrews-parish-church-in-the-town-of-soham-cambridgeshire-for-the-missing-10-year-olds-jessica-chapman-and-holly-wells-two-bodies-have-been-found-near-lakenheath Flowers left at St Andrews parish church in Soham, Cambridgeshire in August, 2002 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

He is serving a life sentence, with a recommendation that he must serve at least 40 years for the murders.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “A prisoner is receiving treatment after an incident at HMP Frankland on Thursday morning.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while police investigate.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We dispatched two ambulance crews to the scene and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was transported to hospital by road.”

Robber Damien Fowkes slashed Huntley with a home-made weapon in 2010, causing a “severe gaping cut to the left side of his neck”.

The wound was 7 inches (18cm) long and required 21 stitches.

Fowkes asked a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.”

He described Huntley as a “notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general”.