Real purpose Ian Huntley was battered in jail as sick stunt left fellow lags raging
The Soham child killer is ‘fighting for life’ after being beaten with a metal pole in jail. Huntley is so hated behind bars that he is often flanked by three or four guards when he moves around HMP Frankland
Huntley has been attacked in prison three times before(Image: Daily Mirror)
Soham monster Ian Huntley angered fellow lags by wearing a Manchester United-style shirt and had argued with his attacker before he was battered in jail, its alleged.
The fiend, 52, sparked fury by wearing a plain red football top with the number 10 on the back, thought to be a sick reference to his 10-year-old victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman who were wearing matching Man United shirts when he killed them.
And he had reportedly argued with alleged attacker Anthony Russell in the weeks before the frenzied assault and was said to be trying to bully him. Russell, a rapist and triple murderer, is reported to have yelled “I’ve done it, I’ve killed him” after attacking Huntley in a prison workshop.
Huntley – serving two life terms for the murders of Holly and Jessica in 2002 – was found lying in a pool of blood at 9am on Thursday after being beaten close to death with a metal pole.
The double child killer was hated in prison because of his crimes and his arrogance and there was a string of hardened cons desperate to get their hands on him. Inmates are said to have despised Huntley over his antics, including the sick footie shirt stunt.
Prisoners are barred from wearing replica shirts of teams they follow, as they can cause conflict, but it was reported Huntley had bought one “as close to a Man United top as possible” and had been “strutting about” HMP Frankland wearing it.
Resentment also grew over claims of special treatment as he spent most of his time as an “enhanced” status inmate with extra privileges. He was in a cell near a guards’ office and was escorted by staff when he moved around the jail to keep him safe.
But Russell, 43, is alleged to have spotted a chance to attack when Huntley was allowed to attend a recycling workshop on the notorious prison’s A-wing. The attack came weeks after the two had allegedly argued when their cells were close to each other.
A prison source told the Sun it was “only a matter of time” Huntley was attacked, adding: “If it had not been Anthony Russell, it would have been someone else. But people are still amazed that Russell was able to get to him and do this.
“Huntley would have three or four officers with him most of the time because he was such a target. It was no secret that loads of inmates wanted to get to him and that is why he was guarded so closely.
“But Huntley was a cleaner until recently, which meant he was always on the wing around officers. He had only been allowed to go to the workshop in the last few weeks and that decision sealed his fate.”
Huntley was airlifted to hospital where his condition was said to be “touch and go”. After being found guilty of murder, he was jailed for life in 2003, ordered to spend at least four decades behind bars and told by judges he had “little or no hope” of being freed.
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