CAMPAIGNERS are demanding protection for a prisoner who was allegedly stabbed four times in a murder attempt by a “known racist” inmate at HMP Full Sutton. 

Kevan Thakrar told the Incarcerated Workers’ Organisation Committee following the attack yesterday afternoon that two prison officers looked on while he was being stabbed. 

But the Ministry of Defence (MoJ) disputes claims that officers did not intervene. 

The IWOC, of which Mr Thakrar is a member, said he sustained four puncture wounds to the back after being stabbed with a sharpened wooden stick and was hit on the head in the prison servery. 

They claim that Mr Thakrar’s attacker is a “known racist,” who shouted “die, die!” as he launched the assault. 

Mr Thakrar was not taken to hospital but treated by two nurses on the ward. 

The IWOC said it was the second attack on Mr Thakrar in a few months and demanded HMP Full Sutton move him immediately to a safer prison. 

IWOC spokesperson Ceri Paine said: “Prison and government officials have been aware of the danger that racist prisoners at HMP Full Sutton presented to Kevan for months now and have refused to act, putting his life at risk. 

“HM Prisons and Probation Service must now act to move Kevan out of this dangerous environment and closer to home to enable him to maintain vital family ties.”

Mr Thakrar was transferred to HMP Full Sutton, Yorkshire, in April where he is being held in the Close Supervision Centre (CSC), a high security unit.

Mr Thakrar’s lawyer had previously raised concerns about the alleged attacker who they claimed had launched “racist attacks” on prisoners before and is also being held in the CSC. 

A spokesperson from the MoD confirmed today that: “A prisoner received medical treatment after being assaulted by an offender at HMP Full Sutton on  December 23.”

They added that the incident has been referred to the police. 

Mr Thakrar, from Steveneae, Hertfordshire, is serving a life sentence for the murder of three people and attempted murder of two.

IWOC has been fighting a campaign to clear Mr Thakrar of the charges claiming he was wrongfully convicted. 

This year has seen record high incidents of violence and self harm in prisons across England and Wales. 

There were 34,223 assaults in 2018, up 16 per cent from 2017.

The rise in violence has been pinned by prison guard union POA to extensive staff cuts under Tory austerity.

The MoJ added: “We are investing £100 million, as part of a broader £2.75 billion programme, in security to cut violence in prisons.”