Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has died after being stabbed in his jail cell by one other inmate.
The disgraced singer was serving a 35-year sentence after being convicted of 13 little one sexual offences in 2013, with fees together with conspiring to rape an 11-month-old child and three counts of sexual assault involving kids.
Watkins, who beforehand pleaded responsible, is claimed to have had his throat slashed after prisoners have been unlocked from their cells at Wakefield Jail in West Yorkshire this morning.
Police and medics rushed to the scene and tried to avoid wasting the 48-year-old however have been unable to. He died from blood loss.
Justice sources beforehand claimed that Watkins’ attacker had been recognized. Police have since confirmed that ‘two males aged 25 and 43 have been arrested on suspicion of homicide and are at the moment in police custody’.
‘Watkins has been killed in probably the most brutal method potential—and the assault was surprising, even by jail requirements,’ mentioned a supply, as per The Solar,
‘He was focused by one other inmate who shanked him within the neck.
‘Guards have been close by and raced to the scene fairly rapidly—however there was nothing they may do, and so they couldn’t save him.’
They went on to explain the incident as ‘horrific’ with ‘blood in all places and alarms and sirens going off’.
At this level, the entire jail was ‘locked down’, with Watkins ‘airlifted to hospital’.
The insider added that he had already been ‘attacked just a few occasions inside Wakefield over the previous couple of years’, believing the stabbing to have been ‘pre-planned’ because of the high-profile nature of Watkins and his crimes.
‘The inmate who attacked him used a “shank” knife, and he was apprehended fairly rapidly.
‘There was not a lot doubt about who had carried out it.’
Following preliminary reviews, a Jail Service spokesperson informed Metro: ‘We’re conscious of an incident at HMP Wakefield which passed off this morning.
‘We’re unable to remark additional whereas the police examine.’
West Yorkshire Police additional confirmed that the incident occurred at 9:39am, including that ‘detectives from the Murder and Main Enquiry Group are investigating, and enquiries stay ongoing on the scene’.
In 2023, Watkins had been left ‘preventing for his life’ after being stabbed repeatedly. He was rushed to hospital after officers discovered him, six hours after being taken hostage by three different inmates.
Watkins was first arrested following the execution of a medication warrant at his Pontypridd residence on September 21, 2012, when a lot of computer systems, cellphones, and storage units have been seized.
Evaluation of the tools uncovered Watkins’ wicked behaviour.
He started serving 29 years of jail time in December 2013, with an extra six years given on licence after he admitted to a string of horrific offences.
Forward of the conclusion of his trial, Welsh rock band Lostprophets, which was based in 1997 by Watkins and guitarist Lee Gaze, cancelled all their exhibits and disbanded.
Talking in March this 12 months, co-founder Gaze, 50, addressed the best way the band ended for the primary time, calling them the ‘most unimaginable circumstances’ which are ‘nonetheless painful to consider’.
‘Issues may’ve been so completely different,’ he added on-line.
‘I don’t discuss it a lot, however I put every part into that band, and it ought to’ve lasted a lifetime. I by no means actually wronged anybody my entire life, so it appeared like the final word punishment.’
The group had a giant cult following, with Watkins utilizing his standing within the band to prey on followers, with two providing up their infants to be abused.
In courtroom, the ex-musician was described as ‘a decided and dedicated paedophile’, and Lord Justice Christopher Pitchford mentioned his acts have been ‘surprising’.
Watkins additionally had two co-defendants, who have been followers of his and moms of his victims. They acquired sentences of 14 and 17 years.
In 2014, Watkins was refused the correct to attraction in opposition to his 35-year sentence. Lord Justice Pitchford mentioned: ‘These have been offences in opposition to toddler kids of such surprising depravity {that a} very prolonged sentence of imprisonment was demanded.
‘It’s not demonstrated the entire sentence of 29 years along with the prolonged licence interval was arguably manifestly extreme. Accordingly, the applying in his case is refused.’
An additional 10 months have been added to his sentence in 2019 after he was caught in possession of a banned cell phone. An ex-girlfriend tipped off the jail.
Watkins claimed two inmates pressured him to maintain maintain of the cellphone so they may contact ladies who despatched him fan mail to make use of them as a ‘income stream’.
In his proof, the defendant refused to call the lads however mentioned: ‘You wouldn’t need to mess with them.’
He additionally mentioned his fellow inmates have been ‘murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, [and] serial killers—the worst of the worst’.
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