Inside Ian Huntley’s miserable prison life: ‘Queue’ of rapists and terrorists who wanted to kill him. Fear of horrific ‘swilling’ attacks. And how being a ‘full of himself’ bully left him ‘ripped apart like a rat’, by TOM RAWSTORNE

Inside Ian Huntley’s miserable prison life: ‘Queue’ of rapists and terrorists who wanted to kill him. Fear of horrific ‘swilling’ attacks. And how being a ‘full of himself’ bully left him ‘ripped apart like a rat’

Over 25 years in prison, Ian Huntley has endured relentless assaults, including beatings, burns, stabbings, and slashes. His torment has ranged from facial punches and head kicks to being drenched in boiling water and cut with razors—once, his throat was nearly slit, missing the jugular by a hair’s breadth.

At 52, Huntley has faced repeated suicide attempts, one of which necessitated emergency care after he ingested antidepressants concealed in teabags within his cell. The news of his recent hospitalization following a brutal beating aligns with his history of enduring violence in custody.

“There is no safe place in prison,” he remarked about his imprisonment.

Despite the constant turnover of inmates, one constant remains—the Soham killer remains a prime target. Jailed for life over the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, prison officials revealed that the latest attack was celebrated by fellow inmates, who reportedly cheered and clapped.

Huntley’s latest attacker is understood to be Anthony Russell, a triple murderer who raped a pregnant victim before strangling her. The judge sentenced him to life for the 2020 attack, calling him ‘exceptionally dangerous and manipulative.’

Anthony Russell reportedly smirked after the attack and declared: ‘I’ve done it, I’ve done it.’

Huntley has spent the majority of his 20-year stay at HMP Frankland, a Category A facility in County Durham. The prison’s annual cost for an average inmate is £85,000, but Huntley’s additional needs would have pushed expenses into six figures annually.

He was set upon in one of the prison workshops, where inmates learn trades such as woodworking, bricklaying, and sand-bag production for the Ministry of Defence. The fourth workshop, where Huntley worked, focused on recycling prison materials.

Insiders claim there had been a ‘queue’ of inmates who wanted to kill Huntley, including Darren Osborne, the Finsbury Park Mosque attacker. They said Huntley ‘was trying to bully’ Russell and ‘turn others against him’—but Russell got to him first.

Those on A-wing are ‘enhanced prisoners’—meaning that in return for good behaviour and compliance with rules they have earned extra ‘privileges’ such as more visits, in-cell TV, and higher canteen spending allowances. Huntley was held on A-wing, alongside about 100 others, including Wayne Couzens, the Met policeman who raped and murdered Sarah Everard.

Even Huntley’s mother, Lynda Richards, expressed hope that he might pass away this time, traveling 175 miles from Lincolnshire to be with him yesterday, according to The Sun.