Ian Huntley put himself at risk of attack after he ‘gained so much weight’ | UK | News
Soham killer Ian Huntley allegedly put himself at risk of attack after gaining weight in prison. Durham Constabulary said Huntley remained in a serious condition in hospital after he was attacked by a prisoner wielding a metal bar in the workshop of a maximum security prison.
Triple killer Anthony Russell was detained at HMP Frankland in Durham on Thursday morning after Huntley, 52, was shot repeatedly in the head, according to reports. Police declined to identify the suspect but said Thursday that a man in his mid-40s was detained at the jail but had not yet been arrested. As Huntley gained weight, it was claimed that he was going out of his cell more for exercise sessions, and this attracted more attention.
A source said Daily Mail: “Huntley’s best chance of avoiding attacks from other inmates has always been to keep his head down as much as possible.
“But last year he put himself in a position to attract attention.
“He had gained so much weight that a diet and exercise regime had to be developed, which included having PT sessions, to get him down to a healthier size.
*** Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us your Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
“More movement on prison grounds means more people noticing you, and in Huntley’s case that’s bad news.”
These claims have not been independently verified by Express.
Former gamekeeper Huntley murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman as they left their family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4, 2002, and then dumped their bodies in a ditch.
Russell was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 for the murders of Julie Williams, 58, and her son David Williams, 32, at separate flats in Coventry and the murder of pregnant Nicole McGregor, 31, who was found in woodland near Leamington Spa three days later.
Russell also raped Ms McGregor.
Thursday’s attack was the last attempt against Huntley and it was thought he was being kept under close observation to prevent similar attacks.
In 2010 robber Damien Fowkes slashed her with a homemade gun, creating a “serious, deep cut on the left side of her neck”, a 7-inch (18 cm) wound that required 21 stitches.
Fowkes asked a prison officer: “Is he dead? I hope so.”
He described Huntley as “a notorious child murderer both in prison and in society at large”.
Huntley is serving a life sentence for the Soham murders, with a recommendation that he serve at least 40 years in prison.
