Huntley faces 10 years in solitary

Ian Huntley faces a decade locked in solitary confinement as his jailers damned him today as "the most despised man" ever to enter Belmarsh maximum security prison.

Huntley was driven away yesterday from the Old Bailey, where he was convicted of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, to start his new life as Britain's most notorious convict.

At Belmarsh, Huntley was not escorted straight back to his cell in the hospital wing as he had been every previous night, but to the reception area of the high-security prison.

He was ordered to strip and the dark suit which he had worn through the trial was taken from him.

Two officers in plastic gloves searched him. He was ordered into the shower room, then handed his prison clothes - shirt, denims, and regulation underwearand boots. Handcuffed again, he was photographed digitally, told his prison number, and his category: A - exceptionally high risk.

Huntley is one of only about 20 men in England in the category: the most at risk from attack by other prisoners.

Prisons expert Mark Leech said: "He is going to be the modern Ian Brady. Other prisoners will be waiting to assault him, throw boiling water over him or adulterate his food."

Huntley has been placed on top-category suicide watch after trying to kill himself at Woodhill prison near Milton Keynes in June. Sources said Wakefield Prison's special secure unit was the most likely option to be Huntley's home when he is moved from Belmarsh.