Prisoner stabbed in Vic high security jail

A man stabbed at a maximum security prison in Victoria is believed to be an underworld criminal once linked to Carl Williams.

The inmate sustained non life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital after he was stabbed at Barwon prison, in Lara, about 2.20pm on Friday, police say.

It's believed the inmate is Thomas Ivanovic, a former prison cellmate of gangland murderer Carl Williams, who was jailed for shooting dead a motorcyclist in 2002.