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Huntley on hunger strike over gay prison lover
Last updated at 11:07am on 18.06.07
The Soham killer was jailed for life for the 2002 murders of ten year olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman (below)
Soham killer Ian Huntley has been on a hunger strike for six days to force the authorities to allow him to be closer to his gay inmate lover.
Huntley, 33, has told prison staff he will not eat unless he is moved to a main wing so he can see more of killer Dean Wood, 29, who was jailed last year for the murder of casino boss Barry De Lacy.
Huntley is under constant watch in Wakefield Prison's medical wing and is not allowed to visit Wood or see the gay killer alone in his cell after four requests to be moved to the main prison were refused.
He began the strike last Tuesday and told staff he is prepared to die unless his demands are met.
Huntley, who is taking liquids only, said: "I have not eaten and I will not. It is the only way you take notice of me and listen to my views. I want to be able to see people in my cell, not just in the day room.
"I will keep on refusing meals until my regime changes."
A source at the Home Office said: "He is saying he is on hunger strike and that he is serious this time. He has not had any food for six days now. Whether he can last remains to be seen."
This is Huntley's second hunger strike since he was jailed in December 2003 for the murders of 10-year-old girls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, and the latest in a series of attempts to take his own life.
After Huntley's conviction for the murders of Holly and Jessica in December 2003, it emerged that numerous young women had made complaints about his predatory sexual behaviour in the years running up to the deaths.
Despite this, Huntley was able to obtain a job as a school caretaker in Soham. In part this was because basic vetting checks were not carried out.
He first tried to kill himself in 2003 while he was awaiting trial. The second attempt came in Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, last September after he was told officially he would never be freed. Huntley took a cocktail of pills but doctors saved him.
Reader views (4)
I hope no one seriously considers this request.
- Marianne, SW France
This guy has been convicted of a serious brutal crime and is in prison to be punished. The home office and our prison service should stop pandering to criminals requests in the name of human rights. These people have broken the law, some taken lives, and should therefore not have the same human rights as law abiding peaceful citizens.
- Lynn, London
Great news. It will help to alliviate the prison cell crisis.
- Bj, London, England
Ian Huntley lost his right's the day he murdered two beautiful little girls. He must accept that he is in prison and he is not in any position to make demands of anyone. Let him kill himself, I hope he suffers dreadfully in the process.
- Jane, London
