Life behind bars at Britain’s highest-security prisons is already harsh, but fresh allegations suggest violence inside the system is still very real.
A convicted killer has now been accused of trying to murder a fellow inmate inside one of the country’s most notorious jails, bringing renewed attention to the dangers lurking behind prison walls.
Killer Accused of Attempted Murder Behind Bars
Duncan Heaton, 52, has been charged with the attempted murder of Andong Abong Ashu, a convicted rapist and former asylum seeker.
Prosecutors say the alleged attack happened inside HMP Full Sutton, a Category A prison near York that houses some of the most dangerous offenders in the UK.
Heaton, who already has a murder conviction on his record, is accused of trying to kill Ashu during an incident said to have taken place in May 2024.
Who Is Andong Abong Ashu?
Ashu, now 55, originally arrived in the UK from Cameroon in 2002 and was later granted asylum.
After settling in Britain, he went on to earn a university degree and found work in NHS laboratories as a scientist.
That life unravelled in 2016 when he was jailed for 21 years after being convicted of four counts of rape and seven other sexual assaults.
The crimes involved a young girl in Hull, East Yorkshire.
Abuse Disguised as Medical Examinations
Jurors were told Ashu began abusing his victim when she was just 11 years old.
He used fake medical examinations as a cover, exploiting trust to carry out repeated sexual assaults.
At sentencing, Judge Jeremy Richardson delivered a damning assessment, calling Ashu “calculating and cruel” and describing him as a “depraved individual” who subjected his victim to “appalling debauchery.”
What Happened at HMP Full Sutton?
Ashu was serving his sentence at HMP Full Sutton when the alleged attack by Heaton took place.
The prison, which holds around 600 inmates, is designed for offenders considered too dangerous for standard facilities.
Details of the incident only became public after Heaton appeared before Hull magistrates’ court last week.
Court Appearance and Next Legal Steps
During his first court appearance, Heaton entered no pleas.
He is currently being held at HMP Wakefield and has been remanded in custody.
The case is set to move to Hull Crown Court, where Heaton is due to appear on February 12.
A Prison with a Dark History
HMP Full Sutton has long been associated with extreme violence.
One of its most notorious cases involved the killing of convicted paedophile Richard Huckle in October 2019.
Huckle, who was serving 22 life sentences for abusing around 200 children in Malaysia, died after a brutal 78-minute attack inside his cell.
Fellow inmate Paul Fitzgerald carried out the assault, which included rape, the use of weapons, and strangulation with an electrical cord.
Infamous Names Linked to Full Sutton
Over the years, the prison has held a string of high-profile and deeply feared criminals.
Past inmates include serial killer Dennis Nilsen, police murderer Dale Cregan, and road-rage killer Kenneth Noye.
The current population also includes terrorist Hashem Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi, as well as former Metropolitan Police officer and serial rapist David Carrick.
What’s Next?
As the case heads to Crown Court, questions remain about what exactly unfolded inside Full Sutton and whether further details of the alleged attack will emerge.
For now, Heaton remains behind bars, and the spotlight is once again on the violence simmering within Britain’s most secure prisons.
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