An inmate suspected of assaulting Ian Huntley could face a decade in solitary confinement after allegedly causing a severe injury to the notorious Soham murderer. The incident took place at Durham’s HMP Frankland, where Huntley was attacked by another prisoner and left critically injured in a workshop within the facility. The assailant reportedly used a metal bar to strike Huntley on the head, resulting in a significant wound.

Following the assault, Huntley, aged 52, was swiftly transported to the hospital in critical condition with a slim chance of survival due to the severity of his head injury. Although the police have not officially disclosed the identity of the attacker, speculation points towards triple killer Anthony Russell as the suspect.

A prison source indicated that the suspect is likely to be segregated from other inmates for an extended period as a result of the serious nature of the attack. The source mentioned that the individual would probably be relocated to the segregation unit for the foreseeable future, possibly up to five or ten years, to prevent further harm to fellow inmates.

Durham Constabulary confirmed that Huntley remains hospitalized in a serious condition and continues to receive medical treatment. Huntley is serving a life sentence for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both aged 10, which occurred in Soham, Cambridgeshire, in 2002. Since his incarceration, Huntley has faced multiple attacks from other prisoners, attempted suicide twice, and developed extreme paranoia about his safety.

Additionally, it was reported that Huntley preferred to consume snack foods purchased from the prison shop, such as cheesy Wotsits, due to his belief that his meals were being tampered with by other inmates. This behavior, along with his history of mental health issues and previous suicide attempts, has raised concerns about his well-being and safety within the prison environment.