Ian Huntley 'regularly visited 2 parts of prison that made him easier to get to'

Soham murderer Ian Huntley, who died on Saturday following a brutal prison attack, was targeted in a part of the facility that made him "easier to get to", a prison source claims. Huntley, who murdered 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets in Soham on August 4, 2002, was confirmed dead today (Saturday, March 7) after being attacked on February 26.

The 52-year-old was alleged to have been targeted in a workshop of HMP Frankland in County Durham on Thursday by another inmate with a metal bar, leaving him badly injured. Huntley was believed to have suffered significant head trauma and died after days in hospital. A man came across Huntley inside HMP Frankland claims prisoners had long competed for the notoriety of being the one to attack the child killer. The source, who spoke to The Chronicle on condition of anonymity prior to Huntley's death, said the child killer was being housed on an "enhanced" wing at the high security prison, where inmates are kept apart from the wider prison community.

"He is sort of protected in prison, but so are the likes of Levi Belfield and Wayne Couzens," the insider said at the time.

The source said Huntley and other prisoners on his wing attended a recycling workshop, and Huntley had recently started going to the gym.

"He would have been easier to get to in the workshop he goes to. Only his wing's prisoners go to that workshop, it could be someone on his wing," he alleged.

"But he has been going to the gym so it could have happened there," the source added. The claims were published on February 26, the day of the attack.

Express.co.uk has left a message with the Ministry of Justice's out-of-hours press team.

Huntley's crimes shocked the nation. After killing Holly and Jessica, the former school caretaker dumped their bodies in a ditch 12 miles away in Lakenheath, Suffolk.

The grim discovery came after a major two-week search for the girls. Huntley was serving a life sentence with a recommendation that he served at least 40 years for the murders.

A judge told Huntley he had "little hope of release" for the horrific killings.

Huntley's life support was switched off at lunchtime on Friday after brain tests showed he was in a vegetative state, The Sun reported. The decision was reportedly made following consultations with his mother Lynda Richards.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “A man who was attacked at HMP Frankland in Durham last week has died in hospital this morning.

“Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in the workshop on the morning of Thursday, February 26.

“A police investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing. A file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration for charges.”