SEX fiend Howard Hughes was locked behind a cage like Hannibal Lector in 'Silence of The Lambs', it was claimed.

The evil paedophile snarled at other sex offenders because they walked past his cell shouting "beast".

The shocking revelations were revealed by another inmate who was caged in the same block as Hughes just after his arrest for the murder of Sophie Hook.

The sex-offender from Warrington - who did not wished to be named, said: "Everyone would walk past his cell, shouting at him.

"He would snarl back like an animal or beast. I didn't like walking passed him. He used to scare me.

"He had a 24-hour guard outside his cell with the door open. The prison maintenance staff built special bars inside the cell so they could keep watch on him."

Hughes was caged in Walton prison's hospital wing where psychologists interviewed him and compiled reports for his trial.

His fellow inmate added: "This wing housed some of the hardest offenders I have ever come across and nobody liked going near his cell.

"Those that did just shouted 'beast'and he would snarl back like a huge animal."

Hughes was sentenced last week to a life behind bars for the rape and murder of little Sophie, who went to the village school in Whitley.

The child was taken from a tent in her uncle's garden where she was camping with her sister and cousin.

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