Evil Southport killer sent to UK’s toughest jail Belmarsh & will face ‘lifetime of hell’ as ‘No1 target’ for attacks
SOUTHPORT killer Axel Rudakubana will face a lifetime of hell behind bars and will be the “number one” target for brutal attacks, a top prison officer has said.
The monster, 18, will spend at least 52 years in prison with a judge ruling that he is highly likely to never be released.
Yesterday he was sentenced to life in jail after he stabbed to death Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, at a Taylor Swift dance class.
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers’ Association said Rudakubana would likely be held in isolation in a segregation unit for his own protection as he will be “target No.1” for other inmates.
He said the evil killer is currently being held at high-security Belmarsh Prison in Woolwich, south east London, where he had been on remand.
He is expected to remain there until he is assessed. He could either stay at the notorious jail or be sent to other Category A prisons across the country including Full Sutton in York or Frankland Prison in Durham.
Mr Fairhurst said Rudakubana would have the same rights as every other inmate and would be offered isolation.
He would be entitled to showers, phone calls home and exercise even in isolation.
Mr Fairhurst said: “If there was any intelligence he was at risk then he would be put in the segregation unit under isolation or to some other part of the prison where he is away from everyone else.”
He added: “His life will be absolute hell. He is target No.1.
“He’ll be looking over his shoulders for the next 52 years. Any chance they can get him they will.”
Notorious prisoners have been targeted by other lags in the past with inmates using improvised weapons to maim their victims.
Sara Sharif’s killer dad had his throat slashed while in the notorious jail despite being under close supervision by guards.
Two inmates ambushed Urfan Sharif, 43, in his cell and cut his neck with a jagged tuna can lid just weeks after he was sentenced.
The pair were sickened by his abuse of Sara, who was beaten, burned and bitten over two years before her death in August 2023.
Soham murderer Ian Huntley had his throat slashed while at high security Frankland Prison in County Durham in 2008.
Three years earlier he had been scolded with boiling water at Wakefield Prison while on the healthcare wing.
As he has just been sentenced to life imprisonment, Rudakubana will be on “suicide watch” with officers keeping a constant eye on him to ensure he does not hurt himself.
The teenage killer will also likely have three prison officers with him when he leaves his cell at all times to ensure he, and other prisoners, are kept safe.
Rudakubana admitted three counts of murder, ten of attempted murder, possession of a knife, production of a biological toxin — ricin — and having information that could be used for terrorism.
Mr Justice Goose said at Thursday’s sentencing hearing that it was highly unlikely that he would ever be released from prison.
The teenager will be 70 by the time that he can apply to leave jail, and even then it is incredibly unlikely he would be let out.
He could be transferred to a Close Supervision Centre (CSC) which are even more secure than regular segregation units.
If so, he would join the 44 criminals across seven high-security jails who are currently deemed too destructive to be kept in a standard wing.
The Sun previously revealed pictures from inside the prisons within prisons which have been described by inspectors as “bleak”.
Images show a treadmill within a thick white cage used by prisoners at HMP Wakefield who have to exercise away from the rest of the lags.
Another shot shows a cramped single cell at HMP Frankland with the sink within reach of the bed, and a stack of books piled in front of a curtained off window.
Most of those locked up in the units are high or very high risk to the public and have little prospect of ever being let out.
Some of those held in the units were last visited by friends or family members 10 or 15 years ago, according to the report seen by The Sun.
Why didn't judge give Southport killer a whole life tariff?
AXEL Rudakubana carried out his twisted rampage when he was 17 years old but despite the horrific nature of his crimes, he was not given a whole life tariff.
The rare sentencing order can only be handed down to anyone aged 21 or over.
Due to Rudakubana’s age, this means he will not spend the rest of his life in prison.
Whole-life orders can sometimes be considered for those aged 18 to 20 in exceptional circumstances.
Although Rudakubana is now 18, he does not fall into this category due to the fact he was 17 when he committed his offences.
The killer was instead be given a life sentence but with a minimum tariff. This means he must spend that amount of time behind bars before he is considered for release.
The judge imposed a minimum term of 52 years, which is one of the highest on record and is thought to be the longest punishment handed to a killer of his age.
Taking into account the 175 days he has already served on remand, he will be required to serve 51 years and 190 days before he can be considered for release by the Parole Board.
Despite the length of the minimum term, it has already been referred to the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
Manchester Arena bomber Hashem Abedi, 23, was handed a record-breaking 55-year minimum term in 2020 for 22 murders and attempted killings. The terrorist orchestrated the 2017 atrocity when he was 20.
Prior to that, the longest minimum term imposed on a terrorist in Britain is believed to have been 50 years in the case of David Copeland.
The 22-year-old was given six life sentences for targeting Brick Lane, Soho and Brixton in 1999 in a 13-day nail bombing campaign that left three people dead and 139 injured.