Ian Watkins, the former Lostprophets frontman serving a 29-year sentence for serious child sex offences, has died following an attack by a fellow inmate at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire. The 48-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday morning, October 11, after what authorities describe as an assault involving a knife.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were called to the high-security prison at 9:39 a.m. following reports of an assault on a prisoner. Detectives from the homicide and major inquiry team have launched an investigation into the incident. The prison was placed into immediate lockdown following the attack, according to sources familiar with the situation.
A Prison Service spokesperson declined to comment while the police investigation remains ongoing. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the identity of the alleged assailant have not been disclosed by authorities.
This marks the second violent incident involving Watkins at HMP Wakefield. In 2023, he survived a previous stabbing at the same facility, suffering non-life-threatening injuries after reportedly being taken hostage by three other inmates. Prison officers freed him after approximately six hours during that incident.
Watkins was sentenced in December 2013 to 29 years in prison, with an additional six years on licence, after admitting to 13 sex offences of extraordinary depravity. His crimes included the attempted rape of a baby belonging to a fan, encouraging a second fan to abuse her child during webcam communications, and possessing extensive collections of child sexual abuse material, some of which he had produced himself.
At the time of his conviction, police characterized him as a “committed, organised paedophile.” The severity and nature of his crimes shocked both the music industry and the public, effectively ending what had been a successful career as frontman of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets.
The investigation that led to Watkins’ arrest began in September 2012 when his Pontypridd home was searched under a drug warrant. During that search, authorities seized numerous computers, mobile phones, and storage devices that revealed the extent of his criminal activities. The subsequent investigation uncovered a pattern of systematic abuse and exploitation.
Following Watkins’ conviction, his former bandmates in Lostprophets disbanded the group and subsequently formed a new band called No Devotion with American singer Geoff Rickly. The remaining members distanced themselves completely from their former frontman and the legacy of their previous musical success.
Watkins’ sentence was later increased by ten months after he was found in possession of a mobile phone while in prison, violating regulations designed to prevent contact with potential victims or co-conspirators.
HMP Wakefield, where the attack occurred, is a Category A men’s prison often referred to as “Monster Mansion” due to housing some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals, including numerous convicted sex offenders. The facility has experienced previous incidents of violence, though attacks resulting in death remain relatively uncommon within the UK prison system.
The death of Watkins raises questions about prisoner safety in high-security facilities, particularly for inmates convicted of crimes against children who often face hostility from other prisoners. Prison authorities typically take measures to protect such inmates, though the effectiveness of these protections varies.
West Yorkshire Police have not released information regarding potential charges in connection with Watkins’ death. The investigation continues as authorities work to establish the full circumstances of the fatal assault.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
