‘I’ve done it’, boasted lag who attacked Ian Huntley with metal spike in frenzied ambush that left head ‘split in two’

SOHAM monster Ian Huntley was bludgeoned with a spiked metal pole in jail, with his attacker yelling: “I’ve done it, I’ve done it. I’ve killed him, I’ve killed him.”

The ambush left Huntley, 52, unconscious in a pool of blood with his head “split in two” after being hit six times.

Medics and staff fought for an hour to stem the bleeding as police and an air ambulance raced to HMP Frankland, Co Durham.

Ex-school caretaker Huntley, whose murder of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambs, shocked the nation in 2002, is understood to have been placed in an induced coma as he was taken to hospital.

Triple killer Anthony Russell, 43, is suspected of battering him in a workshop using the makeshift weapon.

Inmates cheered and applauded as Russell was led away in cuffs. He was taken to segregation but had not been arrested last night.

A woman visiting a lag at the jail said of Huntley: “He’s in a bad, bad way. I shouldn’t say it, but it’s what he deserves.”

The chilling attack unfolded just after 9am at a recycling workshop.

Russell, 43, is said to have had a brief argument with Huntley before launching into the assault.

He battered Huntley at least six times around the head with the pole. A source said the improvised weapon had a spike in its end.

A source said: “It was total chaos, and a pretty horrific scene. It all happened really quickly and started with Russell shouting at Huntley, possibly to stage an argument, before battering him with the metal pole.

“He whacked him six times with it and there is not much ­coming back from that.

“He had grabbed it from the workshop and it is one normally used as part of a large crate that all the recycling goes into.

“It also had a spike in one end, and that got lodged into Huntley, making the injuries even worse.

“He was in a terrible state and in a pool of blood with his head basically split in two.

“All the medics and officers who were on the scene were saying he was dead and that he wouldn’t make it.

“He was bashed to bits and was not breathing.

“They were trying to stem the flow of blood and were struggling to do that and Huntley was completely unresponsive.

“Sirens were going off and there was loads of shouting. Prison officers got Russell into handcuffs pretty quickly.

“But he just looked really calm and pleased with himself as he was led away, and others were clapping, shouting and whistling to him as he shouted that he had killed him.”

The attack comes after paedophile ex-Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, 48, was stabbed to death at the Wakefield jail last October.

Two inmates have appeared in court charged with his murder.

Huntley has been assaulted in jail several times before, including having his throat slashed in 2010.

After he was targeted yesterday, Frankland was placed in lockdown with inmates confined to their cells.

The 850-prisoner Category A prison holds murderers including Levi Bellfield, 57, ex-cop Wayne Couzens, 53, and Sally Anne Bowman’s killer Mark Dixie, 55, plus several terrorists.

Police and medics rushed there after staff called them at 9.23am, soon after jail workshops open.

But although an air ambulance helicopter was on site, Huntley was taken to hospital by road.

A separate source said: “Huntley was hit in a really targeted attack.

“Everyone was shocked but not that surprised afterwards.

“It is shocking this was allowed to happen but somebody was bound to get to him at some point.

“However, the officers that were on duty will face some pretty harsh questions over what they were doing.

“They knew Huntley was a target so should have been sticking to him like glue.

“But prisons are understaffed at the moment and many of the officers are not very experienced.

“None of the staff and inmates at Frankland are expecting to see Huntley back from hospital very soon.

“And some of the prisoners are ringing home and saying things like that they don’t feel safe in there, especially with what happened to Ian Watkins at Wakefield.

“There is a feeling violence is out of control in jails. Russell was taken to segregation and seemed glad about what he had done.

“He was saying he had killed three people, and this was nothing.

“He has nothing to lose and there is not much the prison or police can do, except stick him in ‘seg’.

“He is skinny and not tough or imposing so it’s not that surprising he used a weapon for an attack.”

Huntley was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2003.

His 40-year minimum term means he cannot be eligible for parole until 2042.

Last summer, we told how he sparked outrage and angered other inmates by wearing a red Manchester United-style top like the ones that pals Holly and Jessica were last seen in.

Last month Huntley was stripped of his Xbox and other privileges after unauthorised items including DVDs and magazines were found during a search of his cell.

Russell, of Coventry, murdered Julie Williams, 58, her son David, 32, and Nicole McGregor, 31 during a week-long spree in October 2020.

He admitted the killings and was found guilty of raping Nicole, who had been five months pregnant.

His whole-life tariff means he will never be freed.

Crown prosecutor Sati Ruck said while the reasons behind Russell’s killing spree may never be known, it was clear “all the attacks were deliberate, cold-hearted and designed to achieve his own ends”.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “A 52-year-old prisoner who was injured during this morning’s assault in the workshop at HMP Frankland remains in a serious condition in hospital following treatment for head injuries.

“Forensic teams have examined the scene of the attack throughout the day to gather evidence.

“A suspect, a male prisoner in his mid 40s, has been identified by officers investigating the incident.

“He has not been arrested at this stage but remains in detention within the prison.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “A prisoner is receiving treatment after an incident at HMP Frankland on Thursday morning.”

North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 9.23am to reports of an incident at HMP Frankland.

“We despatched two ambulance crews to the scene and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was transported to hospital by road.”