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Former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison on Saturday morning while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences, sources have confirmed.
Police and paramedics were called to HMP Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, after the paedophile was reportedly ambushed and fatally injured with a knife.
Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene with a murder investigation launched.
The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources added.
The 48-year-old was jailed in December 2013 with a further six years on licence, after admitting a string of sex offences – including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.
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Former Lostprophets frontman and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison (South Wales Police/PA) (PA Media)
The disgraced singer was arrested following the execution of a drugs warrant at his Pontypridd home on 21 September when a large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized.
Analysis of the equipment uncovered Watkins’s depraved behaviour.
He was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison in 2023, suffering non-life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly taken hostage by three other inmates for six hours.
In 2019, he appeared back in court for possessing a phone behind bars, and described his fellow inmates as “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst”.
A statement from West Yorkshire Police said: “At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner.
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Watkins pictured performing at the Reading Festival prior to his convictions (PA)
“Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.”
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.
“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.”
In 2014 Watkins was told he could not appeal against the length of his 29-year jail term.
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Watkins was jailed for 29 years in December 2013 (PA)
Lawyers for Watkins claimed he should have his jail term cut because his last-minute guilty plea spared a jury from having to watch his home-made child pornography.
However the Court of Appeal, sitting in Cardiff, turned down his application for leave for an appeal, with presiding judge Lord Justice Pitchford saying: “These were offences against infant children of such shocking depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was demanded.
“It is not demonstrated the total sentence of 29 years together with the extended licence period was arguably manifestly excessive. Accordingly, the application in his case is refused.”
Among the disturbing videos due to be shown at his trial included his attempted rape of a baby and a webcam chat in which he instructed a fan to abuse her child.
Watkins was given 14- and 15-year consecutive prison terms for engaging in sexual activity with a child and the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby.
He was also convicted of 11 other offences – with those sentences running alongside his 29-year term.