Paedophile Rock singer Ian Watkins k!lled in prison attack

The Death of Ian Watkins: A Prison Attack That Ended a Notorious Life

On the morning of Saturday, October 11, 2025, Ian Watkins, the disgraced former frontman of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, was killed in a violent prison attack at HMP Wakefield, a high-security facility in West Yorkshire, England.

Watkins, aged 48 at the time of his death, had been serving a 29-year sentence for a series of horrific child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby. His crimes, revealed in 2013, shocked the public and irrevocably tarnished his musical legacy.

The attack occurred shortly after prisoners were released from their cells. Watkins was reportedly ambushed by a fellow inmate who used a knife to inflict fatal injuries, including a deep wound to his throat. Emergency services were called to the prison at approximately 9:39 a.m., but despite their efforts, Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene. The prison immediately went into lockdown following the incident, and West Yorkshire Police launched a homicide investigation. Two men, aged 25 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of murder.

HMP Wakefield, often referred to as "Monster Mansion" due to its population of high-profile and dangerous offenders, had long been considered a volatile environment for someone like Watkins. His notoriety and the nature of his crimes made him a target among inmates. 

According to Joanne Mjadzelics, Watkins’ former girlfriend and one of the whistleblowers who helped expose his crimes, she was surprised it had taken this long for him to be killed. She described him as having a "target on his back" from the moment he entered prison.

Watkins’ death marks one of the most high-profile killings within the British prison system in recent years. His case had drawn widespread condemnation and revulsion, not only for the severity of his offences but also for the betrayal of trust he embodied as a public figure and musician.

The Lostprophets, once a chart-topping band with a global fanbase, disbanded shortly after his conviction, and the remaining members went on to form a new group under a different name, distancing themselves from Watkins entirely.

The investigation into Watkins’ murder is ongoing, with detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team leading the inquiry.

The incident has reignited discussions about prison safety, the treatment of sex offenders behind bars, and the broader implications of housing notorious criminals in shared environments.