WAKEFIELD, West Yorkshire — Ian Watkins, the former lead singer of Welsh rock band Lostprophets and convicted paedophile, has died following an assault inside HMP Wakefield, one of the UK’s most secure prisons. He was 48 years old.
Authorities confirmed that Watkins was found critically injured on Saturday morning after prison staff responded to reports of a violent attack. Despite attempts to save his life, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
West Yorkshire Police said detectives from the Homicide and Major Inquiry Team have launched a full investigation into the incident. “A prisoner has died following an assault at HMP Wakefield. A scene is in place and enquiries are ongoing,” a police spokesperson said.
The Prison Service also released a statement but declined to provide details while the investigation continues: “A prisoner has died following an incident at HMP Wakefield. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the police investigate.”
Watkins was serving a 29-year prison sentence, handed down in December 2013, after pleading guilty to a series of horrific sexual offences involving children and babies. The case, described at the time as one of the most disturbing in UK criminal history, revealed years of abuse, manipulation, and exploitation of fans.
Police investigators previously referred to Watkins as a “committed, organised paedophile,” following his conviction for 13 offences, including the attempted rape of a baby and the possession and creation of indecent images of children.
This was not the first time Watkins had been attacked in custody. In 2023, he was stabbed by other inmates and held hostage for several hours before being rescued by prison staff. He survived that incident with non–life-threatening injuries.
Once the charismatic frontman of a chart-topping rock band, Watkins’ fall from grace shocked the music industry and devastated fans worldwide. His crimes effectively ended Lostprophets’ career, with the band disbanding soon after his arrest in 2012.
Watkins’ death now raises serious questions about inmate safety and security protocols within the UK’s high-security prison system — particularly at HMP Wakefield, often referred to as “Monster Mansion” due to its population of high-risk offenders.
Police and prison authorities have not released further details about the circumstances of the attack or whether any arrests have been made in connection with Watkins’ death.
A post-mortem examination and formal identification are expected to take place in the coming days as the investigation continues.