Is he dead?, asked Huntley attacker - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago 

A prisoner who slashed Soham murderer Ian Huntley across the neck with a makeshift knife, leaving him with a gaping wound, told prison officers he wished he had killed him, a court has heard.

Damien Fowkes, 36, admitted attempting to murder Huntley at Frankland Prison in Durham, and he also admitted killing another inmate - paedophile and child murderer Colin Hatch - at Full Sutton Prison near York.

A judge at Hull Crown Court heard on Tuesday that it was Huntley's "good fortune" that the seven inch long wound that Fowkes inflicted with a razor melted on to a piece of plastic cutlery missed anything vital.

Fowkes, who is originally from Northampton, sat in a sealed dock surrounded by prison officers as prosecutor Graham Reeds QC described how he chased Huntley around the healthcare unit at the jail, brandishing two home-made weapons.

Huntley's ordeal ended when he shut himself in a servery as Fowkes tried to get at him and prison guards arrived in numbers.

The judge, Mr Justice Coulson, heard Huntley was in hospital for three days and needed 21 stitches in the wound. He also suffered a gash to his chest, the court heard.

Mr Reeds said Fowkes asked a prison officer: "Is he dead? I hope so." When he was told he had not killed Huntley, Fowkes said: "I wish I had."

Following the attack at Frankland, Fowkes was moved to Full Sutton prison where he was placed on D Wing, for vulnerable prisoners, because of his regular bouts of self-harm.

The court heard it was in a cell on D Wing that he attacked Hatch in February this year. Mr Reeds said Fowkes barricaded himself and Hatch into a cell and told prison officers he would not kill him if they stayed outside - but he then tied Hatch to a bed and used strips of bedding as ligatures to strangle him.

Fowkes admitted attempting to murder Huntley on March 21 last year and admitted the manslaughter of Hatch on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He will be sentenced on Wednesday.

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