Moment fatally injured paedophile rock star Ian Watkins stumbles from cell after his neck was slashed three times in ’20-second knife attack’

This is the moment pedophile rock star Ian Watkins stumbled out of his prison cell after his neck was slashed three times in a ’20-second prison knife attack’.

The debauched former Lostprophets singer, 48, was allegedly murdered by fellow inmates Rico Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 44, at maximum security HMP Wakefield in October 2025.

Gedel is later alleged to have told a prison officer: ‘If I killed him, you might be talking to someone famous.’

He is also said to have said: ‘If I’m going to get life for murder, I’ll make sure it’s worth it.’

The footage shows Gedel walking from left to right, briefly looking at the camera, and allegedly slashing Watkins’ neck seconds before.

He then appears to talk to Dodsworth, who the prosecution said served as a lookout and then threw the murder weapon into a trash can.

The mortally wounded former singer then briefly emerges from his cell in the prison’s B Wing, blood seeping through his gray T-shirt.

Explaining the CCTV to jurors at Leeds Crown Court, KC, Tom Storey, said: ‘The footage shows Ian Watkins briefly exiting his cell at the same time two prison maintenance workers walked towards him across the landing.

The court heard today that pedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins was killed in a 20-second cell knife attack by a fellow inmate in prison.

Rico Gedel, 25, went on trial at Wakefield prison in October 2025, accused of murdering Ian Watkins.

‘And blood is clearly visible on the neck of the T-shirt he is wearing in the footage.

‘Workers noticed Watkins leaving his cell.

‘They saw that he was holding his hand to his neck and was obviously bleeding from a wound.

‘Workers immediately signaled for staff assistance and three prison officers, who were outside an office further down the landing, rushed towards Watkins’ cell.’

At the end of the 34-second clip, Gedel walks downstairs before Dodsworth is seen carrying a trophy in his left hand.

Watkins, who served 35 years in prison for a string of horrific child sex crimes, suffered three deep slash wounds to his head and neck shortly after officers unlocked cell doors in his wing on the morning of October 11.

A 10.5cm cut severed his throat and carotid artery, causing catastrophic blood loss.

Gedel and Dodsworth are on trial for Watkins’ murder.

Rico Gedel, 25, left, walks away from the cell where he allegedly slashed Watkins’ neck moments earlier

Gedel can be seen walking towards co-defendant Samuel Dodsworth, 44, (at the top of the stairs, mug in hand) who allegedly acted as a lookout and then disposed of the murder weapon.

Samuel Dodsworth, 44, allegedly acted as a ‘lookout’ and threw the murder weapon into a bin

Mr Storey told the jury Watkins’ appalling child sex crimes had made him a constant target of inmates who believed prison was ‘too good’ for him.

The court was told how Watkins was attacked a day after he received two notes accusing him of removing another prisoner from the wing, demanding money and threatening violence.

That same evening, Gedel was moved to the B wing of the prison and placed ‘purely by chance’ in the cell right next to Watkins.

The next morning, officers began unlocking cells shortly after 9 a.m. while Watkins remained in his cell.

Jurors heard Gedel was a ‘simple prisoner’, meaning he was only allowed out of his cell for 30 minutes on Saturday mornings.

Mr Storey said he knew he had a very short window of opportunity ‘to do what he had clearly planned to do that morning’.

When a prison officer asked Watkins who was responsible for the attack, he replied: ‘That little black man.’

Gedel was quickly detained by guards and taken back to his cell; He walked past Watkins’ open cell door while emergency treatment was ongoing.

As he passed Gedel he is alleged to have said: ‘Good night, Watkins lad.’

He said he found the “situation amusing”, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Dodsworth allegedly ‘looked out’ for Gedel and threw the murder weapon into a trash can.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the prison entrance less than an hour after he was attacked.

Gedel was placed under constant observation through the hatch in his cell door and was identified as ‘alive’.

Gedel initially refused to answer questions upon arrest, but later allegedly said he was jealous of the “once-convicts” because they were treated “like royalty.”

When asked who caused Watkins’ injury, Gedel is said to have replied: ‘God does everything.’

Jurors heard Gedel was expected to admit to killing Watkins but would claim he lost self-control.

Dodsworth denies knowing about the attack or helping to plan or carry it out.

Watkins, from Pontypridd, south Wales, was sentenced to consecutive terms of 14 years and 15 years in prison in 2013 for having sexual intercourse with a child and attempting to rape an 11-month-old baby.

The disgraced singer was also convicted of 11 other offenses at Cardiff Crown Court, which were in addition to his 29-year sentence.

The trial continues.