FOUND IN A POOL OF BLOOD

PRISON staff had to pull Ian Huntley's attacker off him after finding the Soham beast covered in blood yesterday.

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Insiders told how the double child killer was assaulted by surprise in a workshop.

An inmate armed with a thick metal pole beat the 52-year-old around the head so severely that he may not survive his injuries.

Last night he remained in serious condition in hospital.

Authorities have launched an investigation into how the attacker, who was detained at the prison for questioning, gained access to the weapon.

Huntley is understood to have had heightened security because of two previous attacks on him behind bars.

His cell was believed to be near a desk used by jail staff so they could watch him closely.

Huntley was still considered the main target for an attack in HMP Frankland due to the horrific nature of his crimes - the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. A source said: “He was held on a wing used by the most high-profile inmates.

“It was like a jail within a jail, and his cell was right next to a desk used by the guards.

“Huntley worked as a cleaner, but the attacker got to him when he least expected it. He was always seen as a target for the other inmates, even though so many of them are in there for terrible crimes.

“Frankland has some of the prison system's most infamous inmates.”