A PRISON officer stabbed by a triple murderer has pledged to continue his fight for justice, despite getting few answers when he took his campaign to Parliament yesterday.

Craig Wylde suffered lifethreatening injuries when he was slashed with a broken chilli sauce bottle by killer Kevan Thakrar in Frankland Prison, near Durham.

Thakrar was cleared of all charges after claiming he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by alleged earlier beatings by officers at another prison.

Police are investigating whether the trial jury had been tampered with.

Mr Wylde is leading a campaign for Thakrar to be re-tried, which has attracted nearly 3,500 supporters.

Yesterday, accompanied by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman, Labour’s prisons spokeswoman, Mr Wylde met Justice Minister Crispin Blunt to urge him to back the cause.

Afterwards, Mr Wylde said: “I’m a bit deflated. He said unless there’s any new evidence, there’s no real chance of a re-trial.

“But we’ll keep on fighting.”

Mr Wylde, 29, from Seaham, also urged Mr Blunt to give prison officers stab-proof vests.

“He said it wouldn’t be cost effective, but you can’t put a price on a life,” Mr Wylde said.

Mr Blunt said Mr Wylde had raised some specific issues and he pledged to examine them and ensure lessons were learned.

The incident demonstrated the risks faced by prison staff every day and he appreciated the work they did, he added.

Mr Wylde praised Mrs Chapman, saying she had been very supportive.

He also said the investigation into alleged jury tampering had passed from Durham to Northumbria Police and he would be speaking to officers involved again soon.

Thakrar, 24, was serving at least 35 years for the drug-related murder of three men and attempted murder of two women in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, with his brother, Miran, in 2007, when he attacked Mr Wylde and fellow prison officers Neil Walker and Claire Lewis, in March 2010.

He attacked Mr Wylde and Miss Lewis as she opened his cell door, before turning on Mr Walker.

Thakrar, who said he was deeply sorry for his actions, was transferred to Wakefield Prison following the incident.