One of the killers of Lee Rigby is looked up to by other inmates and has played a part in converting some of them to Islam, a judge has heard.

The details have emerged as part of Michael Adebolajo's legal action against the Ministry of Justice.

He claims he was injured by prison officers during an incident in a cell in July 2013 while he was awaiting trial and is seeking compensation.

Mr Justice Langstaff oversaw a preliminary hearing in the case at the High Court in London on Tuesday.

Fusilier Rigby, 25, was killed by Adebolajo, who is in his early 30s, and Michael Adebowale, who is in his mid-20s, near the Woolwich Barracks in southeast London in May 2013.


The trial heard they mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car before hacking him to death.

Adebolajo was given a whole-life jail term and Adebowale was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 45 years.

Lawyers representing the Ministry of Justice said prison officers likely to give evidence at any trial could be in danger if their names emerged in media reports, although the judge said any trial was some distance off.

The judge made an order barring prison officers involved from being identified.

The lawyers gave the judge detail of the influence Adebolajo had in prison.

Image: Fusilier Rigby was killed near Woolwich Barracks in southeast London

"He forms relationships easily," said the judge.

"He is charismatic.

"There is intelligence suggesting that he has had some influence on the conversion to Islam of some individuals.

"There is a large group of people who look up to Adebolajo."

Five prison officers had been escorting Adebolajo and physical force had been used to restrain him.

He had been held by the head and an arm and had lost two front teeth.

The judge said the use of physical force by prison officers had to be justified.

Ministry of Justice lawyers told the judge that prison officers were "deeply unhappy" about being involved in legal proceedings.

Mr Justice Langstaff said Adebolajo had not been given legal aid to pay for lawyers to represent him, but that if it could be paid for with public funds it would be "all the better".

He said Adebolajo might have to represent himself at any trial and suggested that it would be in the interests of justice if public funding could be given.

"If and when this case comes to trial it will be a great pity to justice, and in particular the presentation of the claimant's case, if some means were not found to ensure he had professional help," said the judge.