Child killer Aaron Campbell is being 'pushed' to mix with other inmates as his move to an adult prison approaches.

Chiefs want the 22-year-old to come out of hiding in his cell before he leaves Polmont Young Offenders Institution before he turns 23 and has to transfer. 

He has been there since he was found guilty of raping and murdering six-year-old Alesha MacPhail in 2018, and has largely been holed up in his cell.

A source told the Scottish Sun: “Campbell still doesn’t integrate with the other prisoners.

“This will be a major problem for him when he moves to an adult prison.

“So to try to prepare him, intense work will be done to get him to mix with the others in Polmont.

“This is obviously hugely difficult because his crimes were so depraved that the other cons hate him and he will be at real risk of being attacked.

“But that is on him.

"He can’t stay cooped up in his cell all day every day.

“He will potentially be inside for the rest of his life.”

Young offenders can be moved to adult prisons by the time they reach 21, but some stay on until they are 23.

It is believed Campbell has been told he could be moved later this year.

The source added: “If he doesn’t want to engage then he faces years of problems in the adult jails.”

It was also reported that he was supposed to be transferred to Glenochil but that plans were halted after prison officers were made aware that a family member of Alesha was serving a sentence there and it was deemed a risk to Campbell's safety. 

Campbell was also said to be visiting the prison gym in a bid to 'toughen up'.