FORMER Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has been murdered in prison while serving time over a string of sickening child sex offences.
The paedophile rocker, 48, had his throat slashed by another inmate inside Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire.
Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins was killed behind bars after being jailed for a string of child sex offencesPA:Press Association
Who was Ian Watkins?
Ian Watkins, born in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales in 1977, was the former frontman of the Welsh rock band the Lostprophets.
The vile ex-rocker was jailed in 2013 after a shocking trial for offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
He changed his plea to guilty at the beginning of the trial and admitted to trying to rape a fan’s baby and plotting to rape another infant.
Watkins filmed himself committing sex acts on a baby boy the day after Lostprophets final album Weapons was released.
In total he was facing 35 years in prison over 13 offences against children.
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The fiend claimed at Cardiff Crown Court he could not remember the sickening attacks because he was a “heavy user” of crystal meth at the time.
Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford said his offences were of “such shocking depravity” that the long sentence was called for.
His two co-defendants, fans who were the mothers of victims, received sentences of 14 and 17 years in prison.
In 2019, Watkins had a further 10 months added to his sentence after he was convicted of having a banned mobile phone in prison, which he used to communicate with scores of warped female fans from his cell.
How did Ian Watkins die?
On Saturday, October 11, 2025, Watkins was stabbed to death in his prison cell.
He was ambushed and had his throat slashed after inmates were unlocked from their cells in the early hours of the day.
His attacker, who justice sources said had been identified, is understood to have slashed his jugular, causing Watkins to die from blood loss.
A source told The Sun: “Watkins has been killed in the most brutal way possible – and the attack was shocking, even by prison standards.
“It was a horrific scene, with blood everywhere and alarms and sirens going off.
“Police and ambulances were called and the whole prison was locked down with all cons confined to their cells.
“Watkins was airlifted to hospital but they could not save him.”
Investigators believe the attack was pre-planned.
Had Ian Watkins been stabbed in prison before?
In August 2023, Watkins was also taken to hospital after he was taken hostage by three other lags, before being ‘’roughed up’’ and stabbed.
The siege at HMP Wakefield only came to an end when a ‘’Tornado’’ team of specially-trained riot officers hurled stun grenades into the cell, where Watkins was being held, according to sources.
One source said he had been stabbed in the neck and had been taken for life-saving treatment at Leeds General Infirmary.
The vile ex-rocker was said to be in a serious condition in hospital.
A source said: “Watkins was attacked today by three pretty heavy-duty cons.
“They got hold of him on B-wing and dragged him into a cell where they roughed him up and barricaded themselves in.
“He was screaming and was obviously terrified and in fear of his life.
“They put the whole wing on lockdown and then sent in riot teams.
“Other prisoners heard three loud flash bangs which was when the officers got into the cell and threw grenades to stun the attackers and take them by surprise.
“It seems like the prison officers might have saved his life.”
The attack also took place on a Saturday.
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