Paedophile Lostphrophets singer Ian Watkins killed in prison attack at HMP Wakefield

THE jailed Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in jail where he was serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences.

West Yorkshire Police said they were called to HMP Wakefield this morning, Saturday 11 October 2025, to an assault on a prisoner, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The disgraced star, 48, (above) from Pontypridd was jailed in December 2013 for a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: "We are unable to comment further while the police investigate."

It is understood Watkins was attacked with a bladed article by another inmate.

He was previously attacked in prison in August 2023, but his injuries were not life threatening.

The attack comes less than two weeks after a report into the prison was published that found violence there had "increased markedly".

The report from the chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said: "Many prisoners told us they felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offences who increasingly shared the prison with a growing cohort of younger prisoners."

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

He also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.

Judges rejected an appeal by Watkins in 2014 to reduce the length of his jail term.

Welsh rock band Lostprophets formed in 1997 and released five studio albums, including a number one album in the UK and two top 10 singles.

They sold millions of albums worldwide and sold out arenas.