The murder of a sex offender branded “Britain’s worst paedophile” could have been stopped, an official report has concluded.

On October 13, 2019, prisoner Richard Huckle, who was from Ashford, died after being “violently assaulted” by another inmate – Paul Fitzgerald.

Huckle, who went to Harvey Grammar school in Folkestone, was serving 22 life sentences at HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire for the horrendous abuse of around 200 youngsters.

According to the evidence heard in court in 2020, Fitzgerald, who was at the same prison as Huckle, was fuelled by "poetic justice" and killed his victim because he wanted him to "feel what all those children felt".

Fitzgerald had planned to kill more people but got "carried away" by "how much fun" he was having with Huckle, a court heard. He had also fantasized about eating his victims.

Fitzgerald, who was also behind bars for a sexual offence at the time of the killing, was found guilty of murder following a four-day trial at Hull Crown Court in November 2020.

An investigation was launched into the death of 33-year-old Huckle and a report now published has outlined there were “missed opportunities” to identify the assault.

The report outlines that at 10.30am on October 13, 2019, Fitzgerald entered Huckle’s cell and “committed a sustained and violent assault”.

Just over an hour later, another prisoner who had disturbed the incident informed prison staff in the wing office.

They went to the cell, removed Fitzgerald and began emergency first aid. At 12.30pm paramedics confirmed Huckle had died.

A post-mortem examination established that Huckle was the victim of a sustained attack that involved makeshift weapons being used to inflict multiple injuries.

The pathologist concluded that Huckle died from ligature compression of the neck.

The report into the incident says CCTV footage shows that “only one member of staff spent time on Huckle’s corridor during the period that Fitzgerald was in his cell”.

It adds: “This was a missed opportunity to identify the assault.”

“Prison staff must be vigilant to indicators that prisoners like Mr Huckle might be at an increased risk of assault at any given time...”

Subsequently, recommendations have been issued to the prison.

It comes after Fitzgerald sometimes spoke to staff at Full Sutton about extremely violent fantasies. He also told an officer that he had constant thoughts of murder, rape, cannibalism and torture.

Fitzgerald also said that he had committed a very violent act on a prisoner at Woodhill, who had not reported this at the time.

On the same day, staff found a note on another wing addressed to Fitzgerald. It indicated that he would be paid to assault a specific prisoner (not Huckle).

Staff submitted security information reports about both incidents and a few days later, he met his prison offender manager in the presence of an officer and said that he enjoyed hitting women and made “veiled threats” that he was planning to commit an act of violence. The officer submitted a security information report.

The report outlined that Huckle had been convicted of numerous high-profile and very serious offences against children and he was the victim of several acts of violence and bullying during his time in prison.

“Some prison staff told us that Mr Huckle’s offence made him more of a “target” for other prisoners,” it said.

“There were also suggestions that his manner in prison meant that he was unpopular with others.

“Prison staff must be vigilant to indicators that prisoners like Mr Huckle might be at an increased risk of assault at any given time.”

It went on to say that Fitzgerald had a long history of violent risk indicators in prison.

“He was diagnosed with and was being treated for a personality disorder with psychopathic traits. He had no social support outside prison,” the report went on.

“Mr Fitzgerald had often spoken to staff about extremely violent fantasies and, sometimes, his desire to act on them.

“He had been involved in, or was suspected of involvement in, violent acts in prison, some of them very serious. He had also threatened serious violence against other prisoners or staff. D Wing staff told us that he was a prisoner who had been identified as a potential risk and that they had been told in meetings to “keep an eye” on him.”

It also outlined that in the 10 days before Huckle’s death, prison staff submitted four separate security intelligence reports about Fitzgerald

Recommendations following the report suggest that the ggvernor should make sure security intelligence reports indicating violence are analysed promptly and in line with local targets and that actions are completed as recommended.

The Governor should also ensure that wing managers interview any prisoner whom intelligence indicates might be considering committing an act of violence and take appropriate action when indicated.

The final recommendation adds the Governor should ensure that officers undertake frequent patrols during association periods and are alert for signs of violence.