Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies in prison attack

Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison, prison sources have confirmed.

Pontypridd’s disgraced rock star was serving a 29-year sentence at HMP Wakefield for child sex offenses.

West Yorkshire Police said they were called to the prison on Saturday morning for an assault on a prisoner who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Watkins was jailed December 2013 for a series of child sexual offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

A Prison Service spokesman said they were aware of an incident at the prison.

“We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”

He was attacked with a knife by another inmate, PA reported, citing sources.

Police reported that detectives investigated the scene and the investigation continues.

he was Attacked in prison in August 2023However, his injuries are not life-threatening.

Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison with a further six years on license, and two other defendants, the mothers of the children he abused, were sentenced to 14 and 17 years in prison.

The attack at Wakefield Prison came less than two weeks after a report was published which found violence at the facility had “markedly increased”.

The chief inspector of prisons’ report states: “Many prisoners told us they felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offenses who were sharing the prison with a growing number of younger inmates.”

Watkins admitted to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, but pleaded not guilty to rape.

He also admitted conspiracy to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven counts of receiving, making or possessing indecent images of children and possession of an extremely pornographic image involving a sexual act on an animal.

judges rejected the objection by Watkins in 2014 to shorten the length of his prison sentence.

At sentencing, Mr Justice Royce said the case “broke new ground” and “plunged into new depths of depravity”.

“Every decent person…will experience shock, disgust and disbelief.”

The judge said Watkins had a “corrupting influence” and showed “no remorse”.

A rock star in his 20s, Watkins sold millions of albums worldwide and commanded huge arena crowds.

Formed in 1997, Welsh rock band Lostprophets have released a total of five studio albums, including one UK number one album and two top 10 singles.

They also had some success in the US; Their second and third albums reached the top 40.

Following Watkins’ conviction, Des Mannion, NSPCC’s head of national service for Wales, said: “Watkins used his status and global fame as a tool to manipulate people and sexually abuse children.

“But we still have to remember that this case is about the victims, not the celebrities. And those victims are children.”