Cause of paedophile singer’s prison death revealed
Lostprophets’ disgraced singer Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in the neck in an alleged prison attack, the inquest heard.
Watkins, 48, died on October 11 after being attacked at HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sexual offenses including the attempted rape of a baby.
The inquest, which had previously started at Wakefield Coroner’s Court, was adjourned until the relevant murder trial was completed.
Two men have been charged with murder in connection with Watkins’ death, while two other men, aged 23 and 39, who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder earlier this week, have been returned to prison while investigations continue.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff said Watkins, whose full name was Ian David Karslake Watkins during the brief hearing, was declared dead by a doctor at the West Yorkshire prison and was formally identified by a prison officer.
Mr Longstaff said paramedics were called to the prison “following a report that he had been stabbed in the neck”.
The autopsy report showed the cause of death was a cut to the neck, the coroner said.
‘The depth of immorality’
At Cardiff Crown Court in 2013, Watkins denied rape but admitted attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13.
He pleaded guilty to 13 charges, including conspiracy to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault on children, seven counts of taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme imagery involving sexual acts on an animal.
Prosecutors described him as a man corrupted by fame, drugs and power who committed “unimaginable” crimes.
Mr Justice Royce said the case “broke new ground” and “plunged into new depths of depravity”.
Watkins was also stabbed in prison in 2023. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following the attack.
Rashid Gedel, 25, and Samuel Dodsworth, 43, appeared in court last week accused of murder but were not asked to enter a plea.
Who was Ian Watkins?
Watkins performing in London in 2012 [Getty Images]
Watkins was once one of Wales’ best-known musicians; He was the lead singer of the rock band Lostprophets.
The band was formed in Pontypridd in 1997 and has sold millions of albums worldwide.
They have released five studio albums, one of which reached number one in the UK.
The band also had some success in the US, with their second and third albums reaching the top 40.
They disbanded soon after Watkins was convicted in 2013.
His former bandmates publicly expressed their surprise and disgust.
Bassist Stuart Richardson said in 2014: “Even though I was completely done with him, I was hoping that this was all a mistake, that he was innocent and that’s how it was meant to be.
“We knew the band was done the first time. You can’t come back from that.”
The remaining bandmates and American singer Geoff Rickly soon formed a new band called No Devotion.
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