Facebook killer attacked in jail

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The man who kidnapped, raped and murdered County Durham teenager Ashleigh Hall has been attacked in prison, police have confirmed.

Peter Chapman, 33, suffered cuts to his face during the assault at Frankland Prison in Durham.

Chapman began a 35-year minimum jail term last month after admitting killing the 17-year-old from Darlington.

The attack is the third high-profile incident inside the prison in the past four weeks.

A Durham Police spokesman said officers had been called to an incident at the prison on Saturday.

Vinegar bottle

He said cases of violence in prison were treated the same as violence on the streets.

He added: "We would normally go to prison to interview them there, before deciding what action is going to be taken.

Peter Chapman did not need hospital treatment

"Although an arrest isn't necessary as their liberty has already been removed, we take exactly the same route thereafter."

Three officers suffered serious injuries in a violent incident inside the prison on 13 March.

One officer lost the use of his left hand after being attacked by an inmate wielding a broken vinegar bottle.

Soham child killer Ian Huntley needed hospital treatment after he was stabbed eight days later in the prison kitchens.

Chapman is understood to have suffered two cuts to his face during the attack, but did not require hospital treatment.

He lured Ashleigh to her death by posing as a 19-year-old on Facebook.

Her body was found near Sedgefield, in October. She had been suffocated.