Daniel Morcombe killer Brett Peter Cowan will be moved into general prison population

DANIEL Morcombe’s killer is serving a life sentence behind bars and has been earmarked by other prisoners as a “bash on site” target, but now his solitary existence in prison has come to an end.

DANIEL Morcombe’s killer will be shifted from a police cell into the general prison population and will lose some of the isolation provided for the child killer’s own protection.

Brett Peter Cowan was found guilty of the murder of Daniel Morcombe in 2014.

He was given a life sentence and will be able to apply for parole after serving 20 years.

He has been housed in ­isolation but it is understood he has been slowly integrated from a solitary existence into the mainstream prison area during the past week.

Brett Cowan was sentenced to life in jail for killing 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe in 2003.

Cowan was previously set to live out his days in a 3m by 4m cell, separated from other prisoners at Wolston Correctional Centre to ensure his safety.

Since being in jail, his only contact has been with guards, his lawyers and a doctor.

Cowan’s case management team, which includes psychologists, has recently decided he should be transferred to another unit where it is believed he will be at the least risk of being attacked.

Channel 7 last night reported that Cowan will be able to go to the unit each morning for two hours but can choose not to go if he does not feel safe.

It is understood Cowan did not wish to join the general prison area.

The Courier-Mail has previously revealed Cowan was a “bash on sight” target, with ex-cons revealing inmates risked a bashing themselves if they did not attack Cowan under orders.

Reports since he was jailed have also revealed that the killer and serial child abuser, previously a gaunt figure, appears to have put on weight.

Cowan was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole ­period of 20 years for killing 13-year-old Daniel in 2003.

He was also found guilty of indecently dealing with a child and interfering with a corpse after abducting the Sunshine Coast teen who was waiting for a bus to take him to local shops to buy Christmas presents for his family in 2003.

After an eight-year police investigation, Brett Cowan was charged with Daniel’s murder in August 2011.

Cowan’s defence team challenged the validity of the covert operation used to gain his confession but it was rejected.

They have now applied to have the matter heard by the High Court.

During the agonising wait for answers to their son’s disappearance, Daniel’s parents Denise and Bruce Morcombe became leading advocates for child safety.