Ian Huntley Blinded and Unlikely to Survive Prison Attack, Reports Confirm
The notorious Soham killer Ian Huntley has been left blind and is not expected to regain consciousness following a vicious assault in the workshop of a maximum security prison, according to detailed reports from The Sun newspaper. The 52-year-old former school caretaker, who murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, suffered severe brain trauma during the attack at HMP Frankland in Durham on February 26.
Details of the Brutal Assault
Huntley was hit repeatedly over the head by an inmate armed with a metal bar in the prison's recycling area, leaving him with catastrophic injuries. He has been kept on life support in hospital since the incident, with sources indicating that he never recovered from the battering and had little chance of survival. The attacker, identified as murderer and rapist Anthony Russell, 43, reportedly shouted "I've done it, I've done it" immediately after the assault.
Durham Constabulary has not officially named the suspect but confirmed that a man in his mid-40s was detained on the day of the attack. This incident marks the latest in a series of attempts on Huntley's life, despite him being under close observation to prevent such violence.
Background of the Soham Murders
Huntley's crimes date back to August 4, 2002, when he murdered Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, to buy sweets. He later dumped their bodies in a ditch, leading to a life sentence with a recommendation of at least 40 years in prison. In the aftermath of the recent attack, Huntley's only daughter, Samantha Bryan, 27, told The Sun on Sunday that "There's a special place in hell waiting for him."
Previous Attacks and Prison History
This is not the first time Huntley has been targeted in prison. In 2010, robber Damien Fowkes slashed him with a home-made weapon, causing a severe, gaping 7-inch (18cm) wound to his neck that required 21 stitches. Fowkes later described Huntley as a "notorious child killer, both inside prison and in society in general," highlighting the ongoing animosity towards him among inmates.
Anthony Russell, the alleged perpetrator of the latest attack, was sentenced to a whole-life tariff in 2021 for the murders of Julie Williams, 58, and her son David Williams, 32, in Coventry, as well as the rape and murder of pregnant 31-year-old Nicole McGregor, whose body was found in woodland near Leamington Spa.
The report underscores the dangerous environment within high-security prisons and the persistent threats faced by high-profile inmates like Huntley, whose heinous crimes continue to evoke strong reactions years later.
