Introduction to the Incident
Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after an attack in prison, according to prison sources. The incident occurred at HMP Wakefield, where Watkins was serving a 29-year sentence for child abuse offenses. West Yorkshire Police reported that two men, aged 25 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of murder.
Background on Ian Watkins
Watkins, 48, was jailed in December 2013 for a number of child abuse offenses, including the attempted rape of a baby. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison and a further six years on license. His two co-accused, the mothers of the children he abused, received sentences of 14 and 17 years in prison, respectively.
Previous Incidents and Prison Conditions
This was not the first time Watkins had been attacked in prison. In August 2023, he was attacked but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The attack at Wakefield Prison occurred less than two weeks after a report highlighted a significant increase in violence at the facility. The Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report noted that many prisoners felt unsafe, particularly older men convicted of sexual offenses who were sharing prison with a growing cohort of younger prisoners.
The Crimes of Ian Watkins
Watkins admitted to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, but pleaded not guilty to rape. He also admitted to conspiring to rape a child, three counts of child sexual assault, seven counts of making or possessing indecent images of children, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sexual act on an animal. Judge Royce refused an appeal by Watkins in 2014 to reduce the length of his prison sentence, stating that the case broke "new ground" and "plunged into new depths of depravity."
Who Was Ian Watkins?
Ian Watkins was a rock star from Pontypridd, Wales, who used his fame to manipulate and control others, often under the influence of hard drugs. Following his sentencing, Des Mannion, national director of the NSPCC’s service for Wales, said that Watkins used his status and global fame to manipulate people and sexually abuse children. The case highlighted the importance of remembering the victims, who were children, and not focusing solely on the celebrity status of the perpetrator.
Aftermath and Investigation
Police were called to Wakefield Prison on Saturday morning to reports of a serious attack on a prisoner, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A Prison Service spokesman said they were aware of an incident at the prison but were unable to comment further while the police were investigating. The incident is currently under investigation, with two men arrested on suspicion of murder.
