The man who murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne more than 20 years ago has been stabbed in prison.

Roy Whiting is currently serving a life sentence at the maximum security HMP Wakefield for the abduction and murder of the schoolgirl in July 2000.

Sarah went missing while playing near her grandparents’ home near Worthing in West Sussex.

Her body was found several miles away in a field just off the A29, near Pulborough, 17 days later.

Sara Payne interview
Sarah Payne was eight years old when she was murdered by Roy Whiting (Handout/PA)

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper the attack on Sunday left the killer covered in blood.

The Prison Service said he was treated for minor injuries.

Sarah’s murder sparked a national outcry and the introduction of Sarah’s Law following a campaign by her parents and the now-defunct News of the World.

The law gives parents powers to check with police whether people given regular unsupervised access to their children have any convictions for child sex offences and was extended to all police forces in England and Wales in 2011.

It is not the first time the notorious child killer has been attacked in prison.

Two convicted murderers, Richard Prendergast and Kevin Hyden, were jailed for an additional seven and a half years each for attacking Whiting in his cell in 2018.

In 2011, Whiting was stabbed in the eye with a sharpened toilet brush handle by fellow inmate, twice-convicted murderer Gary Vinter.

Whiting was left with a six-inch scar on his right cheek after he was attacked with a razor by Rickie Tregaskis, another convicted killer, in 2002.

Before murdering Sarah, Whiting had previously spent time in prison for the kidnap and indecent assault of a nine-year-old girl in 1995.

Shipman Dead Wakefield Prison
The incident happened at HMP Wakefield where Roy Whiting is currently serving a life sentence (Gareth Copley/PA)

In 2010, Whiting’s 50-year minimum jail term for Sarah’s murder was reduced by 10 years by the High Court.

In a statement on Tuesday, West Yorkshire Police said: “At 5.14pm on Sunday evening, police received a call from a member of staff at HMP Wakefield reporting a male prisoner had been stabbed.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “A prisoner at HMP Wakefield was treated for minor injuries following an incident involving another offender.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while the police investigate.”