Soham Killer Ian Huntley is spending the rest of his life behind bars (Image: Daily Mirror)
A lawyer has described what life in prison for Ian Huntley is like after the double child murderer was attacked in prison. The school caretaker killed 10-year-olds Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in Soham in 2002 and was jailed for life. The 52-year-old was purportedly ambushed in HMP Frankland this morning, and suffered serious injuries.
Now, a defence lawyer of more than 20 years experience, Marcus Johnstone, has claimed some offenders « fear for their lives ». The managing director of PCD Solicitors said he is not surprised that the killer was allegedly assaulted, adding: « Having worked with prisoners convicted of very serious offences for over 20 years, I have seen the ways prisons work and just how vulnerable these inmates are to attacks from fellow offenders.
« Based on the severity and depravity of his crimes, Huntley will have lived his prison life largely segregated from the rest of the prison population. He would be classed as a vulnerable prisoner and likely held with other vulnerable prisoners – i.e. sex offenders. However, as a child killer he would also be disliked by sex offenders. Even sex offenders have boundaries that would not cross. »
READ MORE: Panic as bomb threat prompts evacuation – police swarm town
READ MORE: ‘Disgusting’ married paedophile couple jailed for twisted sex offences
Ian Huntley murdered Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells in 2002 (Image: PA)
Huntley’s early years in prison may have been spent in isolation at HMP Frankland, and other high security prisons, Mr Johnstone thinks, « but there is a duty on the prison authority to try to rehabilitate a prisoner, not just punish, » he added.
« Over time, Huntley would become eligible to attend offending behaviour courses – which may result in him having contact with non-vulnerable prisoners.
« He may also have medical problems, and as we have seen on other cases, attacks can happen in the medical wing. Movement around the prison, even attending for visits (legal and domestic), can place such a prisoner at an increased risk of attack. »
The solicitor recalled being personally « trapped » in prison when, during an adjudication hearing, there was an alleged attempt to attack one of his clients.
This resulted in a « lockdown », and they were held in a cell for around two hours until it was safe to be removed, Mr Johnstone said.
He emphasised that HMP Frankland is a high security prison, which holds high-profile child murderers, gang leaders, drug dealers and serious sex offenders.
« We also have an ever increasing foreign population who want to control the prison, » Mr Johnstone highlighted. « It’s an increasingly volatile environment. »
Huntley has reportedly been attacked in HMP Frankland (Image: PA)
He has visited HMP Frankland several times over the years, as well as many other high security prisons across the UK.
Mr Johnson said: « Consistently, almost every sex offender inmate I have met lives in fear for their lives – and a great many violent offenders I have spoken to would jump at the opportunity to attack a man like Huntley. This enhances their ‘reputation’ in the prison estate.
« Despite the amount of supervision and isolation these high-profile prisoners live under, there is unfortunately very little that can be done to keep them completely safe. Other than confining them indefinitely to their cell, there will always be some opportunity for another inmate or gang to get access to them.
« When we add into the mix the fact that most prisoners suffer mental health problems, and over many years in prison these problems become severe, such an attack become inevitable.
« This is not helped by the decline in quality in the national prison staff population, which has seen many skilled and experienced wardens now replaced by cheaper and less experienced personnel without the knowledge or the resources to effectively control their inmates.
« As a result, many of these prisoners spend their whole time inside looking over their shoulder, just waiting for the moment they will be attacked. »
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 spokesman for Durham Constabulary 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. »
Source link
