Soham Murderer Ian Huntley Seriously Injured in Prison Attack

Ian Huntley, the man convicted of the 2002 murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, has been seriously injured in an attack inside a high-security prison, according to prison service sources. The assault reportedly took place at HMP Frankland in County Durham, where Huntley is serving life imprisonment.

The Prison Service confirmed that an inmate at the Category A facility was assaulted and required hospital treatment, though officials declined to formally identify the prisoner involved. However, multiple UK media outlets have reported that the victim was Huntley, now aged 52. Emergency services attended the prison following the incident, and the injured inmate was transferred to hospital under guard. His injuries are described as serious but not life-threatening.

Huntley was sentenced to life in 2003 after being found guilty at the Old Bailey of abducting and murdering the two ten-year-old girls, whose disappearance and deaths shocked the nation. The case prompted sweeping reforms in child protection and vetting procedures, including the introduction of what became known as “Sarah’s Law,” allowing parents to inquire about individuals with convictions for child sexual offences.

HMP Frankland houses some of the UK’s most dangerous offenders, including convicted terrorists and high-profile murderers. The prison operates under stringent security measures, yet assaults between inmates have periodically raised concerns about safety within the high-security estate. Prison officers are understood to have intervened rapidly to contain the situation.

The incident is being investigated by Durham Constabulary alongside internal prison authorities. A spokesperson for the Prison Service said violence in custody “will not be tolerated” and that appropriate disciplinary action would follow. No further details about the alleged attacker have been released at this stage.

Huntley has previously been targeted in custody. Because of the notoriety of his crimes, he has spent long periods segregated from the general prison population for his own protection. Experts in prison management note that individuals convicted of offences against children are frequently at heightened risk of assault by other inmates.

The Ministry of Justice has reiterated that all prisoners, regardless of their crimes, are entitled to safety while in custody. The latest attack is likely to renew debate about conditions in high-security prisons and the management of high-profile offenders within the UK justice system.

More details are expected as police inquiries progress and officials confirm the circumstances surrounding the assault.

Published: 27 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

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