Stephen Lawrence murder suspect attacked in jail just days into nine-year sentence

One of the men suspected of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence has been attacked in prison just days after being jailed for running a £3 million drugs plot.

Jamie Acourt was jailed for nine years earlier this month for masterminding a two-year conspiracy to sell cannabis resin.

He was one of the notorious gang of white men arrested after the racist stabbing of black teenager Mr Lawrence in Eltham in 1993, but has always denied involvement.

Now, less than a week into his sentence, he was reportedly attacked by another inmate at HMP Wandsworth.

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

Sources said 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.

It was also reported that the attacker was a black inmate called Tyrone Archer.

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.

Another gang member, Luke Knight, is not in prison.