Soham murder accused Ian Huntley is in a coma after an apparent suicide bid.
Sources said he was found having a fit in his cell in the early hours of this morning after taking an overdose of anti-depressants at one of Britain's top security prisons.
An investigation has been launched, focusing on the suspicion that the 29-year-old had stored up his prescribed medication.
Huntley was charged with the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman last August, and had been on suicide watch since his last court appearance, when he denied the killings.
He was discovered fitting in his cell by officers at Woodhill prison, Buckinghamshire - who had orders to check him every 15 minutes. He was in a coma by the time he arrived at hospital, at about 4am. Prison Service officials asked the hospital not be identified amid security fears.
Harry Fletcher, of the National Association of Probation Officers, said he had learned from sources that Huntley had overdosed on the anti-depressants, which he had accumulated and hidden in tea bags in his cell.
Mark Leech, editor of the Prisons Handbook, said: "Even in a coma I wouldn't be surprised to find three officers around his bed and even him handcuffed. It's not only preventing him from escaping but it's also because of the uproar this case has caused."
An early report on the investigation is expected by Friday. Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said a recent change in prison procedures could have given Huntley his chance.
He said: "This will no doubt be an embarrassment for the Prison Service and the Government. They will be looking for someone to blame and the chances are that it will be some poor wing officers who unfortunately have been dispensing medication that, in our opinion, they are not medically trained to do."
Officers have to hand out drugs after medical officers have left prisons at night, he said, adding that the changes had come into force in recent months.
Sources said he was found having a fit in his cell in the early hours of this morning after taking an overdose of anti-depressants at one of Britain's top security prisons.
An investigation has been launched, focusing on the suspicion that the 29-year-old had stored up his prescribed medication.
Huntley was charged with the double murder of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman last August, and had been on suicide watch since his last court appearance, when he denied the killings.
He was discovered fitting in his cell by officers at Woodhill prison, Buckinghamshire - who had orders to check him every 15 minutes. He was in a coma by the time he arrived at hospital, at about 4am. Prison Service officials asked the hospital not be identified amid security fears.
Harry Fletcher, of the National Association of Probation Officers, said he had learned from sources that Huntley had overdosed on the anti-depressants, which he had accumulated and hidden in tea bags in his cell.
Mark Leech, editor of the Prisons Handbook, said: "Even in a coma I wouldn't be surprised to find three officers around his bed and even him handcuffed. It's not only preventing him from escaping but it's also because of the uproar this case has caused."
An early report on the investigation is expected by Friday. Mark Freeman, deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said a recent change in prison procedures could have given Huntley his chance.
He said: "This will no doubt be an embarrassment for the Prison Service and the Government. They will be looking for someone to blame and the chances are that it will be some poor wing officers who unfortunately have been dispensing medication that, in our opinion, they are not medically trained to do."
Officers have to hand out drugs after medical officers have left prisons at night, he said, adding that the changes had come into force in recent months.
