Ian Huntley, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years, penned a final letter to a female pen pal just days before he was viciously assaulted in prison. The letter, dated February 18, hinted at Huntley facing difficulties behind bars and expressing concerns about potential threats in the prison environment. In the letter, Huntley, known as prisoner A5274AE, apologized for the delay in writing, citing personal challenges and his aversion to letter-writing. He made a decision to end communication with the pen pal for her safety, disregarding all correspondence and canceling future calls and visits to prevent any harm or risks associated with their association. Huntley concluded the letter by conveying well wishes and stating his firm belief that his decision was for the best. The woman’s identity remains undisclosed.
Following the attack, Huntley was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after being assaulted by a fellow inmate with a metal pole in HMP Frankland, also known as ‘Monster Mansion’. Suffering severe injuries including skull fractures, brain damage, and a broken jaw, Huntley was placed in a medically induced coma with a ventilator. Despite his mother’s visit to his bedside, Huntley’s condition deteriorated, leading to the decision to withdraw life support, resulting in his passing on Saturday morning, as confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.
This was not the first instance of Huntley being targeted while in prison. Past incidents include a scalding attack in 2005 at HMP Wakefield and a slash wound in 2010 at the University Hospital of North Durham. One of his assailants, Damien Fowkes, admitted to attempting to murder Huntley and was also responsible for the killing of another inmate. Fowkes inflicted a significant neck wound on Huntley using a makeshift weapon, expressing a desire for Huntley’s demise during the attack.
