Soham murderer Ian Huntley dead aged 52 after being taken off life support following prison attack

He did not regain consciousness after the assault.

The former school caretaker was serving a minimum 40-year sentence for the 2002 murders of two ten-year-olds, best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapma, in Soham.

Following the news of his death, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remain one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with their families.”

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.”

His mother, Lynda Richards, 71, is said to have travelled from her Lincolnshire home to be at his hospital bedside before his death.

She allegedly told friends that her son was unrecognisable following the savage assault.

Doctors initially assessed his chances of survival at just five per cent.

The attack took place in a prison workshop last Thursday, where Huntley was said to have been struck up to 15 times with the weapon.

His attacker allegedly shouted: "I've done it! I've done it! I've killed him, I've killed him!"

Sources told the newspaper that Huntley's head was "split in two" and that the injuries left him "completely unrecognisable" in hospital.

The incident was not the first time Huntley has been targeted behind bars.

In 2010, he required 21 stitches after robber Damien Fowkes cut his throat in prison.

Four years earlier, in 2006, he received hospital treatment following a suicide attempt while being held at HMP Wakefield.

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