Lostprophets bandmate of convicted paedophile Ian Watkins reacts to murder
Convicted pedophile and bandmate of former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has responded to reports that he was murdered at Category A prison HMP Wakefield.
The 48-year-old man was serving a 29-year prison sentence for child sex crimes when he was stabbed to death on Saturday morning.
Guitarist Lee Gaze used X to thank a fan for their “kind words” and share a prayer emoji after responding to one of Watkins’ previous posts.
He started the thread in July, writing: “It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about it.
“Things could have been very different.”
Watkins was arrested in September 2012 after police executed a drugs search warrant on his property in Pontypridd and officers seized a number of computers, phones and electronic equipment.
It was the analysis of these devices that led to the discovery of his crime.
After his guilty plea in December 2013, Mr Gaze said: “There were two groups [shock] because there were accusations, which was something.
“And a year later the real ‘Yes I did.’ He put it off for a year, so we got hit twice.”
He added: “How could you know? How could you know?
“Who would reveal something like this to five people who have eight children between them? You wouldn’t because they would be killed on the spot.”
Disturbing videos to be shown at his trial included an attempted rape of a baby and a webcam chat in which he instructed a crazed fan to molest his child.
Emergency services were sent to the prison in West Yorkshire on Saturday, October 11, but Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said two men, aged 25 and 43, were arrested and detained.
Following the incident, the prison was quarantined.
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man at HMP Wakefield.
“Police officers were called at 9.39am this morning to reports of a serious assault on a prisoner by prison staff.
“A 48-year-old man was found seriously injured. Despite medical attention, it was determined that he died at the scene.
“Two men, aged 25 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.
“Detectives from the Homicide Squad and Major Investigation Team are continuing the investigation and investigations are ongoing.”
