A CHILD killer was left “drenched” in his own blood after a savage prison attack, it was reported.

Roy Whiting was jailed for life after murdering eight-year-old Sarah Payne in West Sussex in July 2000.

The Sun newspaper reported that the 59-year-old was “left for dead” after being set upon by two convicted murderers in his cell at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

He suffered multiple stab wounds from makeshift blades, with blows raining down upon him in his cell.

One source said: “He was drenched in blood.”

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It was reported that only the fast reaction of prison guards and hospital staff managed to keep the monster alive, after initial fears he would not survive the night.

He was taken to hospital in Leeds in a critical condition on Thursday.

Now though he is back at Wakefield prison’s healthcare wing, and was said to be in a “stable” condition.

A source said: “If Whiting had been stabbed in the street he might have died.

“Because he was in prison, every alarm was raised and he was rushed to hospital within minutes.

“It’s testament to the professionalism of the staff involved that he survived.

“He may not deserve it, but he’s a lucky man indeed.”

It is the third time the paedophile has been targeted in prison. He was initially sentenced to a minimum 50-year tariff behind bars, but that was cut to 40 years in 2010.

He was convicted for snatching Sarah Payne in a country lane near her grandparents home in Kingston Gorse near Goring.

She had been playing hide and seek with her sister and two brothers.

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Whiting was found guilty of her murder in December 2001. It was revealed that Whiting had previously been jailed for four years after kidnapping and indecently assaulting a four-year-old girl in Langley Green in Crawley in 1995.

Sarah’s parents Sara and Michael saw their lives wrecked, but have campaigned to protect children from paedophiles.

She helped bring in Sarah's Law to allow people to know if convicted sex attackers were living near them.