By Stewart Carr For Mailonline

Published: 10:43 EDT, 18 July 2022 | Updated: 10:48 EDT, 18 July 2022

A prison inmate who murdered his cellmate by beating him to death with a wooden table leg has been jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years.

Stevie Hilden, 31, beat convicted arsonist Sundeep Ghuman, 36, to death at maximum security HMP Belmarsh in southeast London on 18 February 2020.

The victim, who was jailed for arson attacks in Bexley in 2011, was rushed to hospital but died the next day.

A post-mortem found Mr Ghuman had died from a traumatic head injury and he had also suffered extensive bruising to other parts of his body.

It is believed Hilden tore off the leg of a table inside the cell and repeatedly beat his cellmate with it in the sickening attack.

Stevie Hilden (pictured), 31, beat convicted arsonist Sundeep Ghuman, 36, to death at maximum security HMP Belmarsh in southeast London on 18 February 2020.

He refused to answer any questions following his arrest and didn’t provide an explanation to police about how the victim came to suffer his injuries.

Hilden denied but was convicted of murder at Woolwich Crown Court and jailed for life with a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for parole.

Mr Ghuman broke into a Kwik Fit store on May 7, 2011, while armed with a blowtorch and a propane gas canister, then set fire to a tyre stack and a fence.

Later that night, residents had to be evacuated from their homes after he damaged a pipe, causing a build-up of gas.

He was convicted of two charges of arson and three counts of being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Ghuman (pictured) had previously been jailed for carrying out arson attacks in Bexley in 2011. He was rushed to hospital after Hilden's attack but died the next day

HMP Belmarsh is one of only three high-security 'core' local prisons in England and Wales

Mr Ghuman was jailed for five years and four months and ordered to remain on licence for a further five years.

Detective Inspector Karen Bangs, the investigating officer, said: ‘Sundeep suffered a sustained attack that left him seriously injured and ultimately resulted in his death.

‘My thoughts remain with his family as they continue to come to terms with their loss.

‘This was a complex investigation in a challenging environment and I would like to thank the prison authorities for their support throughout the process.

‘Hilden is a dangerous offender and he will now spend a considerable time in a high-security prison.’

The victim’s mother, Harpal Ghuman, said: ‘On February 19, 2020, my son was killed in a brutal and merciless way. To think of the pain and suffering Sundeep had to go through makes me very upset.

‘Mr Hilden has shown no remorse for his actions. I do not want anyone else to go through the pain and loss that I have had. 

'I have listened to all the evidence at court and wish to thank the prison officers, police officers and barristers for bringing justice for my son.’

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