SOHAM child killer Ian Huntley has been allowed to mix with visiting kids behind bars after jail chiefs bowed to “ludicrous” equality rules.

Huntley, 45, and other paedophiles had long been segregated from other cons and their families during visits at HMP Frankland, Durham.

5 Convicted child killers like Ian Huntley are now able to mix with children during visiting hours at HMP Frankland in Durham Credit: PA:Press Association

Ian Huntley SERVING life for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both ten. The pair were abducted by Huntley soon after they left their homes in Soham, Cambs, and were never seen alive again. Huntley later lied to reporters in TV interviews, feigning shock at their disappearance.

Hear Soham killer Ian Huntley talk about murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman from prison

But officials relaxed the strict rules as they feared isolating the beasts might be “discrimination”.

A recent visitor to the jail, which also holds Levi Bellfield, Russell Bishop and Peter Sutcliffe, said: "It's madness. Everyone's angry."

A father who took his five-year-old son to see a relative in jail was horrified to find Soham fiend Ian Huntley alongside them.

Recalling the visit to top-security HMP Frankland, he said: “As I sat down, there he was, right next to us. I was furious.

“Who on earth thinks putting a paedophile serving a sentence for killing children into a room with young kids is a good idea?

“I don’t care if they say he’s being watched at all times. It isn’t right.”

The dad complained to a prison officer who told him governors did not want cons to feel “victimised”.

Officials now permit paedophiles in the Durham jail to mix with young visitors for up to two hours at a time in a sop to equality rules.

Who on earth thinks putting a paedophile serving a sentence for killing children into a room with young kids is a good idea? Recent visitor to HMP Frankland

The controversial decision is understood to have been taken locally by the jail and is not official Prison Service policy. But it has sparked fury among inmates and their families. Another recent visitor to Frankland said: “It’s madness and everyone’s angry. Why should the likes of Huntley be treated ‘equally’?

“He didn’t exactly give those little girls much of an equal opportunity to live, did he?”

For years Huntley, 45 — who killed schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman ­— and other paedophiles have been strictly segregated from other cons and their families during visiting hours.

But officials relaxed the rules — fearing that isolating the brutes might be “discrimination”.

The furious father put in a written complaint after his visit, telling bosses he would not be calling again until arrangements were changed.

5 It is understood that the decision was taken locally by the jail as they feared isolating the beasts might be 'discrimination' Credit: ncjMedia

A Frankland official replied — enclosing a notice sent to all cons last month explaining “why we have now integrated all prisoners” during visits.

The official insisted the prison took “safety very seriously, especially when it comes to members of the public”.

But they added: “We cannot discriminate against any prisoner, as we pride ourselves on treating all prisoners as equals.”

Why should the likes of Huntley be treated ‘equally’? He didn’t exactly give those little girls much of an equal opportunity to live, did he? Recent visitor to HMP Frankland

The notice read: “The governor is committed to providing an area for domestic visits which is safe, decent and an appropriate environment which will help prisoners to strengthen ties with their families.

“Strong family ties help individuals to cope with life post- conviction and are also known to help reduce anti-social behaviour both in custody and in the community.”

Huntley’s murders in the Cambridgeshire town of Soham in 2002 shocked the world.

Other paedophiles at HMP Frankland include “Babes in the Wood” murderer Russell Bishop, 52 — serving a minimum of 36 years for the murders of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows, both nine, in Brighton in 1986.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield, 51 — now suspected of links to a paedophile ring — is serving a whole life sentence for three murders, including that of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Another inmate, sex beast Stan Simpson, 54, is serving 24 years for indecent assaults and rapes of seven children aged between eight and 16.

Other infamous lags include Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, 72.

Last night sources said Frankland’s policy had been put in place by a previous governor.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said: “It is simply unavoidable that murderers and sex offenders will be around during visiting time at high-security prisons.

But she stressed: “Trained officers always closely supervise visits.”

5 Huntley's crimes shocked the world in 2002 after the school caretaker killed schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after they went missing from a family BBQ Credit: Manni Masons Pictures

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Tory MP Andrew Bridgen: “These are very dangerous prisoners who have committed heinous crimes.

“I do hope that the Prison Service has carried out a full assessment of the risks to the public, and also the risks to the prisoners themselves.

“The prison needs to make full consideration of all factors.”

Russell Bishop “BABES in the Wood” murderer Bishop is serving a minimum of 36 years for the murders of Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows, both nine. The 52-year-old sexually assaulted then strangled the pair before dumping their bodies in woodland near Brighton in 1986. He was cleared of their murders by a jury in 1987 following a bungled trial. But changes to “double jeopardy” laws and a DNA breakthrough finally nailed him and he was convicted of both murders at the Old Bailey last year. A cellmate later claimed that Bishop was remorseful for his crimes.

Stan Simpson FORMER advice worker Simpson is serving 24 years for indecent assaults and rapes of seven children aged between eight and 16. Last September he was convicted of attacking an eighth victim after a jury heard he had emotionally blackmailed the young boy into staying silent for years after the assaults. Simpson, 54, from Sunderland, was told by a judge: “You preyed upon him and groomed him to the point where he was powerless against your carefully laid plans to ensnare him in your sexual depravities.” He is on the sex offenders register for life.

Peter Sutcliffe THE Yorkshire Ripper remains one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers. Sutcliffe, 72, spent 32 years as a patient in Broadmoor before medics ruled him “bad not mad” in August 2016 and he was moved to Frankland. He got 20 life terms in 1981 for murdering 13 women and trying to kill seven more. Sutcliffe has befriended a African dictator doing 50 years for war crimes. Charles Taylor used child soldiers to mutilate his enemies when president of Liberia. Sutcliffe is reportedly in poor health – blind, having to use a cane to walk and battling diabetes.

5 A recent visitor to the jail says his young son was seated right next to the Soham killer Credit: Alamy

Levi Bellfield SERIAL killer Bellfield is one of only around 60 cons in Britain serving a whole life sentence. He was jailed for three murders, including that of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Last December a top social worker’s report, filed to the Met, warned Bellfield was part of a paedophile ring which still “pose a serious threat to children”. Last year it was revealed that Bellfield had converted to Islam while behind bars. The twisted murderer demanded to be known as Yusuf Rahim following his finding of religion.

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5 He called the situation 'madness' saying 'why should the likes of Huntley be treated ‘equally’?' Credit: Alamy

​Trailer for Channel 5 documentary - ​Ian Huntley: 5 Mistakes That Caught a Killer