Former Lostprophets frontman slain in reported knife attack inside high-security HMP Wakefield.
Ian Watkins, the disgraced former lead singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, has reportedly been killed in a violent attack inside HMP Wakefield. Watkins, who was serving a 35-year sentence for a string of child sex crimes, is said to have died following a knife assault carried out by another inmate.
According to The Sun, the incident took place shortly after inmates at the high-security facility were released from their cells. Witness accounts suggest Watkins’ throat was slashed in what insiders claim was a targeted and possibly pre-planned attack. A source described the scene as “shocking, even by prison standards,” adding that the assault was swift and brutal.
Prison guards were reportedly close by and responded immediately but were unable to save him. Emergency services were called to the jail around 9:39 a.m., and the area was quickly locked down. Authorities confined inmates to their cells as alarms rang out across the facility.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers responded to a reported assault on a prisoner, and the man was pronounced dead shortly after. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating, and the crime scene remains under examination. The Prison Service also issued a brief statement acknowledging that an incident had occurred but declined to provide further details while the police investigation is ongoing.
This is not the first time Watkins faced violence behind bars. In 2023, he was stabbed and briefly held hostage by three other inmates at the same prison. He survived that incident with non-life-threatening injuries and was freed by officers after a six-hour ordeal. Reports at the time suggested the motive involved jealousy over Watkins giving guitar lessons to other prisoners.
Watkins was jailed in December 2013 after admitting to 13 serious sexual offences, including the attempted rape of a baby. The case shocked the public due to the severity of the crimes and his status as a once-popular musician. His arrest followed a police raid at his home in Pontypridd in 2012, where officers seized phones, computers, and digital storage devices. Forensic analysis of those items led to the discovery of recordings and evidence of his criminal acts.
The news of his reported death is likely to reignite discussions around prison safety, the treatment of high-profile offenders, and whether the system adequately protects inmates regardless of their crimes. While many will have strong feelings about Watkins due to the nature of his offenses, the apparent ease with which he was attacked raises questions about security at one of the country’s most notorious prisons.
Authorities are expected to release further information once investigations progress. For now, HMP Wakefield remains locked down following what insiders have described as one of the most violent incidents at the facility in recent memory.
