The Prison Service has issued a statement after former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was stabbed to death in jail.
The paedophile rock star, who was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences, was attacked with a knife on Saturday morning, sources have confirmed. Emergency services were sent to the prison in West Yorkshire but Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Prison Service spokesperson said in a statement: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning. We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.” Watkins, 48, was jailed for 29 years in December 2013 with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.
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The disgraced singer was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on September 21, 2012 when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized. Analysis of the equipment uncovered Watkins’ depraved behaviour.
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “At 9.39am this morning, police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner. Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.” Watkins suffered severe injuries after being taken hostage in 2023. A source told us at the time: “He was found by officers after being held hostage and battered on Saturday morning. He’s in a life-threatening condition and there are fears he could die. If he survives, he’ll have been very lucky.”
It is understood Watkins was taken hostage by three other inmates. He is said to have suffered stab wounds and beatings before eventually being freed by prison officers around six hours later. Witnesses said paramedics worked to save his life in an ambulance outside the jail.
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Watkins found fame and fortune as frontman for the rock band Lostprophets until he was unmasked as a drug-crazed predatory paedophile in 2013. He shocked the rock world after pleading guilty to the attempted rape of a baby and 10 other sex offences after preying on fans, including two who offered up their babies to be abused by their idol. Watkins was described in court as a “determined and committed paedophile”.
The court heard he plotted to abuse two babies with their own mothers in text and internet messages in which he spoke of his desire to “cross the line” and to intoxicate one young victim by blowing crystal meth smoke into the child’s face. And the judge heard details of a sickening 17-minute video shot in a London hotel room which showed Watkins perform a sex act on a child.
In 2013, the Welsh native pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to 13 child sex offences. He also admitted to the rape and sexual assault of a child who was under the age of 13. Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
Sentencing Mr Justice Royce said the case broke “new ground” and “plunged into new depths of depravity.” He said Watkins had a “corrupting influence” and had shown a “complete lack of remorse”. He added Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.
Source: Mirror
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