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Little Boy Blue: Rhys Jones' killer fears for his life after TV drama airs

Last night, we were all left saddened when the first episode of four-part drama, Little Boy Blue, aired on ITV.

The series depicts the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, whose life was tragically cut short when he was hit by a stray bullet on his way home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, 10 years ago.

Sean Mercer is serving life in prison.
Sean Mercer is serving life in prison.

The gun had been fired by gang member Sean Mercer, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder in Frankland Prison, Durham, where Britain’s most high-profile and dangerous criminals serve their time.

It has now been reported that Mercer, 26, is fearing for his life after the drama hit our screens last night, terrified that his raised profile will make him a target for other inmates.

Speaking to the Daily Star, a prison source explained: “Mercer cannot stand it. There are some real tough guys in Frankland and he is not one of them.

Rhys Jones had his life cut short as he walked home from football.
Rhys Jones had his life cut short as he walked home from football.

“It’s a real ‘Monster Mansion’ and it’s giving him nightmares.

“He hoped to slip under the radar because so few people knew the appalling thing he had done but the TV series has turned him into a celebrity and celebrity inmates are simply dead men walking.

“He knows there will be no shortage of volunteers lining up to take a pop at him and is desperate for a move.”

Frankland has a reputation for being one of Britain’s toughest prisons and high profile inmates have been attacked by their fellow prisoners before.

Little Boy Blue made its TV debut last night.
Little Boy Blue made its TV debut last night.

In 2010, Ian Huntley, jailed for life in 2002 for the murder of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, needed urgent medical attention after his throat was cut by an inmate, and Levi Bellfield – Milly Dowler’s murderer – had his face “brutally slashed” just last year.

Little Boy Blue was widely praised by viewers when it aired last night, with many taking to Twitter to share their heartbreak at the tragic story.

Read more:

[ Viewers left heartbroken by Little Boy Blue ]

[ Little Boy Blue cast open up about the ‘responsibility’ they faced ]