Prison chiefs are facing a fresh security crisis after a convicted murderer was killed by another inmate.

John Mansfield, who was jailed for life in 2007 for murdering Ann Alfanso, 63, was attacked on Sunday whilst being locked up in HMP Whitemoor.

A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The latest high-profile security incident came less than 24 hours after Hashem Abedi – one of the Manchester Arena bombing plotters –attacked three prison officers, stabbing them and throwing hot butter or margarine in their faces.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Police are investigating the death of prisoner John Mansfield at HMP Whitemoor on Sunday, April 13. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Serial thug Mansfield - with 75 previous convictions - was jailed for 25 years in 2007 for the drug-fuelled murder of neighbour Ann Alfanso, 63.

And in 2011 he was convicted of wounding a man he hated with a chair leg inside Manchester's Strangeways Prison.

Mansfield then stabbed John Orme, 50, seven times in a cold-blooded attack which severed an artery in his left arm, leaving him needing 22 stitches.

Mansfield fashioned a weapon from a broken plate and lay in wait for Orme to finish his prison work before surprising him in his cell saying: “I have a present for you.”

The thug was jailed for life for the attack on Orme and was warned he may never be released.

Prison officers sustained life-threatening injuries including burns, scalds and stab wounds in the "unprovoked" and "vicious" attack by Hashem Abedi.

The Ministry of Justice has vowed to carry out a review into the attack.

Ian Acheson, a former prison governor who has advised the Government on extremism in jails, told The Telegraph: “Two violent incidents over the weekend at our highest security prisons have lifted the lid on a collapse of security and safety for both staff and prisoners.

“This is completely unacceptable. But it is also becoming normalised. HMP Whitemoor, a modern, purpose built maximum security prison was described in 2023 by the Chief Inspector as the ‘filthiest’ prison he had ever inspected.

“If you can’t get the bins emptied in these places you can be sure everything else is going wrong too.”