Police are investigating reports the leader of the far-right group Britain First was beaten up in prison – exactly a week after he was jailed for hate crimes.

Paul Golding, 36, was allegedly attacked by two inmates at HMP Elmley, on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, according to sources.

Golding is now believed to have been separated from other inmates at the category C prison by being moved to another unit.

Kent police confirmed they were investigating a report of an assault at the prison between 4.15pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The force said it did not confirm the identity of those involved, but added: “The victim is alleged to have been punched by two other inmates, causing him to suffer minor facial injuries.

“Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

A HM Prison Service spokesman added: “We do not comment on individual prisoners.”

Golding was found guilty on 7 March at Folkestone magistrates court of religiously aggravated harassment alongside Britain First’s deputy leader, Jayda Fransen, which they carried out in Kent in May last year.

The court heard the pair launched a political campaign in which they claimed to be trying to expose Muslim men who were the subject of a rape trial.

Instead they ended up branding innocent people as paedophiles and rapists.

Golding was handed an 18-week prison term and Fransen, 32, was jailed for 36 weeks. Both will serve half the time in custody and half on licence.

During the sentencing Kevin Smallcombe, defending, raised concerns the pair could be subject to violence in prison.

The judge, Justin Barron, said the pair’s crimes were deliberately planned against targeted victims and their actions and words demonstrated hostility towards Muslims.

On Wednesday Facebook said it had removed the group’s official page, along with those of the leaders, after the site’s rules on hate speech were repeatedly broken.

After its suspension from Twitter in December, Golding said the group was looking for new social networks to join and urged supporters to follow.