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Man who was Stephen Lawrence murder suspect attacked in prison

Jamie Acourt is serving a sentence for drug offences.

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Serious concern for inmate safety at Wandsworth

A man who was suspected of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has been attacked by a fellow inmate just days into his sentence for running a £3 million drugs plot, it has been reported.

Jamie Acourt was arrested after the racist stabbing of black teenager Mr Lawrence by a gang of white men in Eltham in 1993 but has always denied involvement.

The 42-year-old from Eltham, south east London, was jailed for nine years earlier this month for masterminding a two-year conspiracy to sell cannabis resin.

But less than a week into his sentence the 42-year-old was attacked by another prisoner at HMP Wandsworth.

Jamie Acourt court case
Jamie Acourt, who was suspected in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. (Metropolitan Police)

The Sun reported that Acourt was punched in the back of head while preparing for exercise on Wednesday morning.

Sources told The Sun Acourt instantly fell to the floor before prison officers intervened.

A Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed an inmate had been put on report for punching another prisoner.

She added that the victim did not require medical treatment.

Stephen Lawrence murder
Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of white men in Eltham in 1993 (Family handout/PA Images)

Jamie spent more than two years on the run, living in Spain under the alias Simon Alfonzo, until his arrest in May.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston Crown Court to his part in the conspiracy which moved about 750kg of the drug with an estimated street value of around £3 million.

His 43-year-old brother Neil had already been jailed for more than six years for his involvement when Jamie was sentenced on Friday December 7.

Both brothers were arrested shortly after the murder of Mr Lawrence but neither was convicted.

In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Mr Lawrence and jailed for life.

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