Ian Huntley, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, has been branded a ‘sick b*****d’ for wearing a football-style shirt in prison as a sick reference to his victims

Paige Ingram Multimedia Journalist

20:00, 19 Jul 2025

Ian HuntleySoham murderer Ian Huntley(Image: Alamy Stock Photo)

Durham prisoner Ian Huntley has incited outrage among fellow inmates with his prison attire, leading them to label him a “sick b*****d”. The small town of Soham in Cambridgeshire was thrust into the national spotlight following the disappearance of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in August 2002.

In response, over 400 police officers, alongside volunteers, tirelessly scoured the area in hopes of finding the two 10 year old best friends. Their disappearance occurred after they left a family barbecue to buy sweets from the leisure centre vending machine, only to be tragically drawn into the house of the malevolent school caretaker Ian Huntley.

Huntley, along with his partner Maxine Carr, deceitfully engaged with the media and participated in the frantic search efforts. However, it was later revealed that Huntley harboured a heinous secret as the cold-blooded killer of the girls.

On August 20, Huntley faced charges for double murder and received two life sentences, with a minimum term of 40 years imprisonment. He will not be eligible for parole until at least 2042, reports the Mirror.

Huntley, now aged 51, is constantly at risk of assault from other prisoners and has suffered numerous health issues and suicide attempts while incarcerated. Currently detained at HMP Frankland in Durham, sources claim he has taken to wearing a No10 Manchester United-style jersey, which is seen as a vile nod to his young victims, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Holly Wells (left) and her best friend, Jessica Chapman.Holly Wells (left) and her best friend, Jessica Chapman.(Image: PA)

A source revealed: “He’s been seen strutting about in the shirt as if it’s funny. It is vile.” Huntley was labelled a “sick b****d” by fellow inmates for donning the football top, responding with a thumbs-up gesture, according to The Sun.

Prisoners have reported him “strutting about” in the plain red sports top adorned with No10 on the back, believed to have been purchased from Sports Direct. A source commented: “Everyone thinks he is doing it to satisfy his own sick mind, rather than for football reasons.

“He started wearing it when it became hot enough this year and is often seen in it when he walks to the gym or to healthcare.” The source further added: “Officers also do not like it and quite a few have said it’s wrong and he should have it taken off him.

“But staff are powerless to stop him as it’s not an actual football shirt and he hasn’t broken any rules. However it is just wrong. Huntley is not even a football fan really. The Number 10 is especially offensive and seems a sick reference to the girls.”

HMP FranklandHMP Frankland(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick expressed: “This disgusting murderer shouldn’t be swanning around jail in a shirt designed to insult the memory of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. It should be ripped off his back by prison officers.

“The family of those two poor girls are entitled to know that Huntley isn’t getting any special treatment in jail, and that his life is as miserable as it can be made to be.”

Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.