Killer Bamber attacked in prison

Jeremy Bamber received a life sentence for five murders

Convicted murderer Jeremy Bamber has been slashed in the neck by a fellow inmate in jail, it has emerged.

Bamber - who killed five members of his family 18 years ago - was reportedly almost killed when he was attacked while talking on the phone.

His lawyer said he was considering suing the Home Office for negligence over Saturday's attack.

Bamber received 26 stitches following the attack at Full Sutton jail, York, where he is serving a life sentence.

The Prison Service confirmed that an inmate had been attacked.

"A prisoner was taken to hospital following an assault on Saturday afternoon," a spokeswoman said.

"The police have been informed of the incident."

Bamber was treated at York District Hospital before being returned to his cell.

Jeremy Bamber is entitled to as much protection as anybody else Giovanni Di Stefano Jeremy Bamber's lawyer

The assailant's knife came within a quarter-inch of cutting Bamber's carotid artery, his lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano said, adding that his client was "very, very lucky to be alive".

Mr Di Stefano said Bamber was talking to a female friend on the phone when an inmate attacked him from behind.

"I am considering taking legal action for negligence but Jeremy is not interested in money and he is not interested in revenge," Mr Di Stefano said.

"He just wants to concentrate on the legal moves we are taking to clear his name."

While Bamber thanked the prison and hospital staff for reacting quickly, Mr Di Stefano criticised the Prison Service for being "undermanned, underpaid, under-staffed and under-trained".

Inheritance wish

"Jeremy Bamber is entitled to as much protection as anybody else," he said.

Bamber is understood to be planning an appeal and Mr Di Stefanno said he would consider trying to get the appeal process speeded up if his client was not safe.

Bamber was jailed for life in 1986 for the murders of his adoptive parents farmer Neville and June Bamber, his sister Sheila "Bambi" Caffell and her six-year-old twin sons Nicholas and Daniel.

The court heard he wanted to inherit the family farm at Tolleshunt D'Arcy near Maldon, Essex.

He then sought to pin the blame on Ms Caffell, who had a history of mental health problems.

Family anger

He has previously lost two appeals against his conviction, despite protesting his innocence.

Bamber angered his surviving family in 2002 when he offered a £1m reward for any fresh information which would help him have his sentence quashed.

Earlier this year he lost a High Court action to recover £1.27m he claimed he should have received from his grandmother's will.

He argued he should have inherited her former home and that he was owed 17 years in back rent for the property.